The Lowell Sun is reporting that Eileen Donoghue put in $125,000 more into her campaign. This has triggered the Millionaire’s Amendment in McCain Feingold which states that the other candidates can raise $4600 for the primary up from the $2300 limit.
Story can be found here
By contributing more than $350,000, Donoghue yesterday triggered the “Millionaire’s Amendment,” which was part of the 2002 McCain, Feingold, Shays, Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Act, co-written by the very man Donoghue hopes to replace in Congress, UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan.
Current law restricts individuals from donating more than $4,600 — $2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general election — to any one candidate.
The primary limit will now increase to $6,900, but it’s possible only Miceli and Eldridge will be able to take advantage. Tsongas and Finegold are both waiting for the Federal Election Commission to weigh in, but acknowledged the possibility that their campaigns had outraised Donoghue by too much to qualify for the increased limits.
The Millionaire’s Amendment was written, in part, to level the playing field among federal candidates.
Big bet.
She at least seems to believe her internal polling.
WOW………..most politicians at least wait until they get elected to break promises! Donoghue couldn’t even do that. She promised not to donate more of her husband’s stock wealth to the campaign several months ago, now she is desperate to win second place. What do you expect from someone who has donate big money to and changed her voter registration all to support a REPUBLICAN!
Hi DEMHAV! How nice that you signed up just now in order to dish dirt on a candidate.
Actually I have been reading this site for over a year, but the hypocrisy of Donoghue’s waiting until the last minute to dump her money into the race just struck me as something that needed to be commented on. I don’t think I’m dishing any dirt that is not unknown. I like my Democrats to be committed to their values, not just when it is convenient. I look forward to reading more of your commentary, as I have for a while. Take care
… but I do hope you understand that “new signup” + “invective against one particular candidate” makes you look like a plant. I have to take you at your word that you are not one, and I look forward to your good-faith commentary on issues farther afield from this race.
Oh, Charley. You make it sound like I am hiding behind bushes (small b)and peeping into windows……….I’m really not that seductive, so calm yourself. LOL
Eileen Donoghue’s giving money to John Thibault in 2004. Having grown up in Lowell and knowing both John Thibault and Eileen Donoghue I know they are personal friends. When a friend asks you for money for a campaign and you can afford it, I imagine you give him the money.
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John Thibault has returned the favor and maxed out to Eileen’s campaign. Sometimes friendships trump politics.
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As I am a registered Republican and activist (I worked tirelessly for John Thibault for instance in 2004) I won’t be supporting Eileen in this partisan campaign. I have however supported Eileen in her non-partisan city council races. She is a classy person and one who works tirelessly for her constituents. I just disagree with her on a host of issues.
but leaving the Democratic Party is another.
I think I’m with EaBo on this one; friendship has to trump politics.
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I understand your frustration, though. It seems like people who run for office under one party’s banner ought to be true to their party. For example, I will never forgive Ray Flynn for supporting Bush in 2000 and then trying to run for Joe Kennedy’s seat.
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So I hear ya. But again, I think EaBo is right. Friendship is more important.
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I just hope friendship doesn’t turn into changing one’s position on important issues………there already is too much of that in Washington. One hand washing the other is surely part of the reason we got into this mess in Iraq. Friend or no friend, critical thinking in Washington is in short supply. Each to their own I guess.
Sorry…I have a big problem with a so-called Democratic candidate for Congress who jumps parties and donates money to a Republican trying to unseat a liberal Democratic State Senator. Particularly a Republican who was recruited to run by our illustrious former Governor and would-be President Romney. And out of friendship?
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She may be classy and tireless, but if she can switch allegiances that easily, she is not the kind of Democrat I want representing me.
I said politics. As in, there are two candidates, and you are party-loyal to one, but the other is your friend. At some level this has to go out the window, of course, but I don’t think state senate is that level.
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By the way, I don’t live in the district and I have no preference in this campaign. I was just pulled into this thread by the dilemma, which (as I said above) is a tricky one.
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Didn’t we all discuss this very same issue back in April? The only one missing this time is EBIII. Here is the link:
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http://www.bluemassg…
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I have nothing new to add to this topic; I said my piece back then. Either DEMHAV was not paying attention or his definition of one year is different than mine.
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I want to thank Mimi P for her reply, as I was not aware that this had been discussed last April. There is alot of content and I may have missed that one as I was traveling at the time. I was, of course, surprised that Eileen Donoghue broke promises as far back as April. I will have to look further into this. That only reinforces my feelings about career politicians who break promises before they even get elected.