Dakota Beacon

AP writer Ken Thomas put together a short article that appears on both the Bismarck Tribune and the Fargo Forum websites on July 15, 2009. Apparently Senator Dorgan has raised nearly $1 million:

WASHINGTON (AP)—North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan raised nearly $1 million during the past three months and now has $3.5 million in his campaign account for his 2010 re-election campaign.

Dorgan released his quarterly campaign finance report on Wednesday. The Democrat could face Republican Gov. John Hoeven next year. Hoeven has said he expects to make a decision on the Senate race by early September. Dorgan raised $940,000 during the months of April, May and June. Through the end of March, he had $2.7 million in his account.

As has been almost entirely ignored year in and year out by North Dakota’s print and broadcast media, the North Dakota Democrat Party is funded primarily by out-of-state money (82% for 2008). Reading Mr. Thomas’s article brings to mind, therefore, the question, how much of Senator Dorgan’s campaign money comes from out of state? It is kind of hard to compile a complete record because there are contributions to his PAC, the Great Plains Leadership Fund, as well has the campaign in his name (Friends of Byron Dorgan), not to mention unreported contributions of less than $200 per year for an individual. Trying to fight your way through the Federal Election Commission website to obtain 2009 contributions is a difficult task. But personal contributions over $200 by individuals for the first quarter of 2009 to the Senator’s campaign can be examined at http://www.opensecrets.com.

25 Point Bonus Quiz 1 – What was the percentage of contributions to Senator Dorgan’s campaign during the first quarter of 2009 over $200 was contributed by North Dakota citizens? Answer at bottom of this page.

a) 90%

b) 75%

c) 50%

d) 30%

e) 10%

f) 1.237%

As to the AP story, what percentage of the over $940,000 contributions of greater than $200 was given to the Senator Dorgan by N.D. citizens during April, May, and June?

25 Point Bonus Quiz 2 – Will AP writer Ken Thomas obtain that percentage and educate the citizens of the state regarding who is supporting our candidates? Answer at bottom of this page.

a) Yes

b) No

c) Highly unlikely

Because it is so difficult to navigate the FEC website and obtain tabular results, time limitations allowed only a review of contributions of over $200 during the first quarter of 2009 from individuals to the Great Plains Leadership Fund with names beginning with the letter A.

25 Point Bonus Quiz 3– What was the percentage of contributions of over $200 during the first quarter of 2009 from N.D. citizens to the Great Plains Leadership Fund with names beginning with the letter A? Answer at bottom of this page.

a) 90%

b) 75%

c) 50%

d) 30%

e) 10%

f) 1.39%

Will any member of the North Dakota print or broadcast media ask Senator Dorgan (as it is all likely in easily transferred databases used for bulk mailing of contribution solicitations), then examine, and subsequently present to the state’s citizens the facts of who pays for our national representatives? NO.

This of begs the question: Although only N.D. citizens can vote for Senator Dorgan, who gets him elected?

25 Point Bonus Quiz 4- If Senator Dorgan’s challenger asks the Senator to forswear all out of state campaign money for the 2010 election, Senator Dorgan will:

a) Have his campaign funded by his constituents only.

b) Have almost exclusively by non-citizens of N.D. make sure he gets elected.

c) Laugh

d) a & b

e) b & c

f) none of the above

Quiz answers:

Quiz 1: f (1.237 %)

Quiz 2: c (Highly unlikely)

Quiz 3: f (1.39%)

Quiz 4: e (b & c) subjective call but most likely answer based on all historical evidence