If A.O.C. Is So Heavily Favored, Why Has Her Race Drawn $30 Million?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

All the money in the world is not likely to influence the outcome of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election bid in November.

But that has not stopped people from trying: The contest has improbably become the second most expensive House race in the country.

Money has been pouring in from all sides. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, has raised $17.3 million, much of it from small donors attracted to her star power, progressive policies and outsize social media presence.

Her Republican challenger, John Cummings, a 60-year-old former schoolteacher at St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx and a former officer for the New York Police Department, has collected $9.6 million in his first bid for office.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/if-aoc-is-so-heavily-favored-why-has-her-race-drawn-dollar30-million/ar-BB1alJZF?li=BBnb7Kz

The right uses her as a boogieman. She's a bit brash at times but I don't see her being defeated by Republican.

[bottomofthehill]

1. Not going to happen

She wins in a walk but money is the mothers milk of politics and AOC just like every politician wants as much money as she can get her hands on for her future runs.

[Voltaire2]

5. Any opportunity to bash AOC.

Her opponent is running a well funded campaign. If that were not the case you might have a point.

[bottomofthehill]

9. Simple reality

It’s a plus 30 democratic district, one of the most liberal in the country. She wants not needs 17 million dollars in this race. This is not an attack it’s reality. Like Jamie Harrison with 100 million dollars, they can’t spend the amount they are bringing I , but “make hay while the sun shines”. There is nothing wrong with it, people may not want or have the ability to be as generous with political donations in 2/4 years.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. So much money is being spent because this is a pricey market, I would suspect (NYC)...

I'm just guessing...

[Mariana]

3. People aren't always rational when it comes to donating their money.

If it feels good to them to donate to AOC, they'll do it, regardless of whether her campaign actually needs the money.

[JonLP24]

7. I give money to candidates that are similar to my ideology

I don't really play moneyball with politics. I did donate to Jamie Harrison & I also donated to Evelyn Farkas -- I didn't care if she was a progressive or not but I was impressed with her record on Russia.

[dutch777]

4. Consider it a downpayment...

...for her run for Senate and then the Presidency. Or Governor and then the Presidency. Or just that the more she can be out there, the more Republican heads that explode. Anyway you cut it, great investment!

[Earthshine2]

6. She's got my vote, for any and all of the above. nt

[empedocles]

8. Hopefully the wasting of Dem money ifsoffset by using up/wasting 'con money

[Bradshaw3]

10. She's "a bit brash?"

I find her a lot intelligent, articulate, informed and dedicated. She was on this morning with Tapper and was as reasonable and eye-on-the-prize as she always is, deflecting his divisive questions with comments about how important it is for Biden to win, and promoting other Democratic candidates like Harrison and Greenfield. I would bet that she uses any extra funds for other candidates or other good purposes. Or maybe she runs for senate against Gillibrand.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. I said at times she is

Such as the time she participated in a demonstration in Pelosi's office in 2018.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joins-protest-in-nancy-pelosis-office-during-her-freshman-orientation

Her recent comments on Joe Biden and fracking however show she may be taking a more pragmatic approach as of late..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142612886

[JonLP24]

16. She was speaking to young climate change activists

She handled the situation much better than Feinstein who was tougher on them than Lindsey Graham.

[Bradshaw3]

18. Speaking to those who helped get her elected seems pragmatic to me

I don't think her approach is any different than when she came in. Your take seems a bit patronizing to me.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

19. Taking over the office of your party's leader before you've taken office is not really productive

Spare me your fake indignation and welcome to ignore.

[Bradshaw3]

20. She didn't "take over" Pelosi's office

So spare me the falsehoods.
From the article you posted, Pelosi said this:
“We are inspired by the energy and activism of the many young activists and advocates leading the way on the climate crisis, which threatens the health, economic security and futures of all our communities,” she said in a statement provided to The Daily Beast.

“We welcome the presence of these activists, and we strongly urge the Capitol Police to allow them to continue to organize and participate in our democracy.”

You are welcome to read other posts on your thread expressing the same feelings.

[Trumpocalypse]

22. Yet she still voted for Pelosi for speaker

which not all democrats did.

[unblock]

15. Her style is typical New Yorker. No-nonsense, tell it like it is, don't dodge or soften it.

I love it. She stays on point and cuts through the crap. Simple, direct, clear.

I get that that style can come across to non-new yorkers as "brash", but after 4+ years of Donnie's relentless obnoxiousness, no one gets to complain about that.

I prefer to call it "refreshing"

[Bradshaw3]

17. Well said n/t

[Karma13612]

21. I would love to see AOC run

Against Gillibrand.

Being not from her district, it would be my first chance to vote for her.

Ever since the Al Franken debacle, I have been especially angry at Gillibrand.
She has always struck me as phony, and irritating. And obviously backstabbing.

She is part of the old style NY political machine.

Since I also find Schumer not progressive enuf, it would be a great day if I got to vote either one of them out and place AOC in there instead.

Just needs to happen before hubby and I possibly move to another state further into retirement. I am sizing up NC and watching the weather and politics in equal measure!!!

[Trumpocalypse]

23. Are you also angry at Harris, Warren, Sanders

and the over 30 other democrats who called for Franken to resign?

[Bradshaw3]

25. Some may not like it but AOC is going to be a force for years to come

And many, including some of us oldsters, think new blood leading the party would be a good thing even though Pelosi et al have done many great things. That's true in any endeavor, not just politics.

Only place I've been to in NC is Asheville but it's funky cool and beautiful, but getting very expensive from what I hear.

[Karma13612]

27. Thanks for the info!

I suspect the urban areas are pretty expensive.

But, at least it’s worth a look!

As far as young blood taking over, I am all for it. If we usher in some new blood, we can make progress in the right direction.
As a 66 year old, I am the first to admit that it is time to move on.

[unblock]

11. The stupidity is on the Republican side, not ours

Republicans are largely wasting their money on this race. It accomplished nothing and takes away from other races where it money might have an actual effect on the outcome. But they made aoc such a lightning rod that they just feel they must try to defeat her.

On our side, money given to aoc isn't he needed for her to win re-election, thanks to republicans constantly making her look good and giving her national attention. But any funds we give her, she can use for future runs or to give to other campaigns or to the dnc, etc.

So it helps her build her career and extend her influence.

[bullwinkle428]

26. Dear Republican Party : So you have chosen "Set fire to this pile of money worth $9.6 million"?

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Repubs have hated her since the day she was elected.

For some reason she is the new target to demonize like they did to Hillary.

I remember the day after the election setting up for a job in a conference room and this lawyer walks in and was just raving about how awful she was vilifying her with all the RW talking points. Which sort of floored me as he didn't live even in the same state as her district and he was so vicious. (I of course was on the job and had to keep my mouth shut. The guy wasn't our client, thank god.)

She's got a great future ahead of her, but they're going to throw everything and the kitchen sink at her.

[tulipsandroses]

13. I take issue with the title. She is heavily favored in her district. They are using her

for fundraising. On the other end, dems are donating in record numbers this year. Its a tactic they have been using. Running long shot candidates against democrats they dislike, especially minority women that they vilify. Buckets of money pouring in as they try to defeat her, Rep Maxine Waters, Rep Omar, . But its not working. Interestingly, the money they are spending is not targeted locally in their district. Its focused nationally.

But I'm not mad at them as a political strategy. Isn't that the same thing that has powered Jaimie Harris? Except, Jaimie Harris is a qualified candidate. I don't know about these candidates they are putting up to defeat democrats. That's why its not working out in their favor.

[greenjar_01]

24. The fact that AOC is gonna be clowning these fools for 40 years is a great source of joy for me.