Money, mailers big part of election

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 10, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Money and mailers were flying from political groups in the days leading up to the May 3 election for the 6th U.S. Congressional District.

In the week before former state Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, won the seat, Republicans spent around $170,000 for advertisements, phone banks and “field organization” against the Democratic candidate.

Within that time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, spent more than $380,000 on similar expenses against Republican opponent Woody Jenkins. The committee also spent more than $100,000 on efforts in support of the Democratic candidate.

Jenkins lost to Cazayoux by 2,957 votes or 3 percent of the 101,017 votes cast in the May 3 general election.

Jenkins said Democrats nationally were pouring money into Cazayoux’s campaign.

“Nothing like that comparable happened on the Republican side,” Jenkins said. “So we just didn’t have the money to work with.”

Federal Election Commission reports show that during the 6th District campaign, the National Republican Congressional Committee spent $440,000 and the conservative lobbying group Freedom’s Watch spent $536,000.

The DCCC spent $1.2 million, the FEC reported.

Other outside groups spent more than $260,000 in support of Jenkins’ and $150,000 for Cazayoux, FEC reports show.

Jenkins said he did better than expected in Republican areas. Cazayoux’s support in the black community is the reason for his win, Jenkins said.

Jenkins said he was running against a slew of mail advertisements, telephone calls, neighborhood canvassing and efforts to physically transport people to the polls in black communities.

“It was a very extraordinary effort,” Jenkins said. “I’m not suggesting anything illegal happened. I just think it was decisive in the election.”

Doug Thornell, spokesman for DCCC in Washington, D.C., said the organization focused on Jenkins’ record, which they believe was out of step with voters throughout the 6th District.