There are 100 days left until the U.S. midterm elections. Although Democrats have enjoyed favorable political winds recently—Trump's approval ratings are declining, oil prices are rising, and the unpopular war with Iran drags on—the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a key party institution, has fallen far behind its Republican counterpart in fundraising. Internal dysfunction and mounting debt are increasingly causing anxiety among Democratic leadership. The DNC’s financial situation has deteriorated to such an extent that it is now asking suppliers to delay sending invoices until after the midterms. Party Chair Ken Martin finds himself at the eye of the storm, increasingly isolated and gripped by fear of losing his job, relying only on an extremely narrow circle of trust. His stress has become so severe that in early July, he snapped at a junior staffer, hurling a phone onto the staffer’s desk—an incident that led to a formal complaint. However, DNC Executive Director Roger Liu stated that discussions about delayed payments were “just standard negotiations with vendors regarding contracts and payment processes.” On the Republican side, Trump controls a $400 million super PAC, while the Republican National Committee (RNC) holds nearly $130 million. By contrast, the DNC is already $2 million in debt. Facing this massive financial disadvantage, Martin met this month with Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, proposing the creation of a new super committee to raise campaign funds. At least some attendees believed the move was intended to inflate the fundraising numbers under Martin’s leadership, thereby counting funds he could not otherwise secure as his own accomplishments. Martin offered any useful support, but the group ultimately adjourned without reaching an agreement.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871838968169499/
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