Hodes Stumbles in First Senate Test

Officials at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have reason to be concerned this week with the performance of the candidate they have called their “presumptive” nominee for Judd Gregg’s open Senate seat in 2010.

This past Wednesday those running for Congress across the country submitted their first quarter fundraising figures. According to published reports 10 of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s leading candidates raised more than $1 million.

According to Politico not all of the news was good news for Democrats. They labeled Paul Hodes as “the most notable Democratic Senate laggard.” In the first quarter Hodes reported raising $225,528, with an additional $39,000 transferred from his U.S. House campaign account. At the end of the quarter Hodes was left with roughly $254,000 cash on hand.

Of those running for the Senate as a Republican only two reached the million dollar threshold. One Republican, Senator Jim Bunning, was described by Taegan Goddard of Political Wire of raising a “paltry” $263,000 with $400,000 cash on hand. Embattled Senators with “paltry” fundraising hauls weren’t the only candidates who bested Hodes this quarter. According to a Congressional Quarterly analysis of fundraising in the first quarter the 40 most vulnerable House Democrats averaged $266,000, a sum more than $40,000 higher than Hodes who is looking for a promotion to statewide office and the United States Senate.

The fundraising total for Hodes raises early concerns about his viability as a statewide candidate and may prompt Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter or a Republican challenger to give the race another look.