Failed Dem challenger against Susan Collins still has $11m left from campaign

[wellst0nev0ter]

But yes, it was "Defund the Police" that sunk the gimme downballot races

Maine's record-breaking U.S. Senate race may be long over, but the effects of its massive spending are still visible. After setting many fundraising records last year, former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, the Democrat who lost her nationally targeted challenge to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, still has more than $11 million in her campaign account, according to filings reported to the Federal Election Commission on Thursday.

Gideon could be holding onto that money for a future run — for Senate again, or for the 1st Congressional District seat if Rep. Chellie Pingree goes elsewhere, though $11 million is already more than any Maine congressional candidate has ever raised — or she could donate it to other candidates or causes.

https://news.yahoo.com/sara-gideon-still-11m-left-000600376.html

This is absolutely appalling, an abject embarrassment. If we had a more dynamic candidate who actually SPENT ALL HER MONEY and put everything on the mat, we would have had another Senate seat by now and we wouldn't need to worry about Joe Manchin.

How do you explain this and how do we fix this?

[bearsfootball516]

1. Money doesn't solve everything when it comes to campaigning.

They were actually talking about this earlier this week on Pod Save America.

Gideon brought in over $200 million in donations. In a state like Maine where advertising on TV isn't particularly expensive, it's HARD to spend that much money. They were literally bringing in more money than it was possible to spend. They bought nearly every commercial spot that was available the last few weeks of the campaign, they actually had a few national TV spots. A large amount of money came in after the death of RGB, when it was basically too late to spend it.

[UTUSN]

2. Yip, she should have *splurged* every penny - at least look like trying!

Albeit I know nothing about her, up to and including her name and positions, so my impugning her efforts is worth 2 cents!1

[wellst0nev0ter]

5. At the end of the day

She lost what polls say was a very easy race.

She has no excuse.

[Hawker123]

3. A sad thing

I contributed several times and sadly she did not even use it. And yes, the crazy refund the police slogan definitely did not help.

[Yavin4]

4. Stacey Abrams showed us that organizing is more effective than money and ad buying.

Putting energy into organizing and mobilizing the vote is far more effective than buying ads on TV which are not as effective as they once were. People have streaming options nowadays.

Jamie Harrison also raised a ton of cash which didn't do him any good as well.

[ananda]

7. So true.

The ground game is so important.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. Seems like that $ could have been used to GOTV...nt

[FBaggins]

8. Flat wrong

She lost by just under 10%.

There was no end to the money that flowed into that race, but there are limits to how much can be spent effectively in Maine. There are only so many ways to reach people.

All this news proves is that there are diminishing returns past a certain point when it comes to political spending.

Yes... she had $10 million left unspent... but she spent $63 million. Over double what Collins spent.

She didn't lose because she failed to spend all of her money. Spending another $50 million wouldn't have closed a ten point gap.