rga 2009 chairman's report
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The 2009 Republican Governors Association Chairman's Report.TRANSCRIPT
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
RGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 17-20AUSTIN, TEXAS
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT I 2009
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 250 | Washington, DC 20006 | (202) 662-4140 | www.RGA.org
2009 REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS OF THE UNITED STATES
Bob Riley, AL
Sean Parnell, AK
Jan Brewer, AZ
Arnold Schwarzenegger, CA
M. Jodi Rell, CT
Charlie Crist, FL
Sonny Perdue, GA
Felix Camacho, GU
Linda Lingle, HI
Butch Otter, ID
Mitch Daniels, IN
Bobby Jindal, LA
Tim Pawlenty, MN
Haley Barbour, MS
Dave Heineman, NE
Jim Gibbons, NV
John Hoeven, ND
Luis Fortuño, PR
Don Carcieri, RI
Mark Sanford, SC
Mike Rounds, SD
Rick Perry, TX
Gary Herbert, UT
Jim Douglas, VT
1
2009 GOVERNORS-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA32
GOVERNOR-ELECT CHRIS CHRISTIE OF NEW JERSEY
GOVERNOR-ELECT BOB MCDONNELL OF VIRGINIA
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP
Governor Haley Barbour (MS), Chairman
Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN), Vice Chairman
Nick Ayers, Executive Director
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Governor Haley Barbour (MS), Chairman
Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN), Vice Chairman
Governor Charlie Crist (FL), Gala Chairman
Governor Rick Perry (TX), Finance Chairman
Governor Sonny Perdue (GA), Recruitment Chairman
Governor Linda Lingle (HI), At-Large
Governor Jim Douglas (VT), At-Large
54
The Republican Governors Association had one overarching goal this year: win at least one of the governors’ races taking place in New Jersey and Virginia. We knew victory in one race would reverse a troubling trend line for Republicans and winning both would give our Party serious momentum heading into 2010.
We faced tremendous obstacles in New Jersey and Virginia, but thanks to a pair of great candidates and unprecedented investments by the RGA, we picked up two states that for over a decade had been moving more and more Democratic.
These victories will serve as a springboard into 2010, when we have 37 races and an opportunity to reclaim a majority of governorships for the GOP.
Many people share the credit for our successes. First, I want to thank my colleagues for their assistance and support this year, especially Vice Chairman Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, the Executive Committee, and recent former chairmen Governor Mark Sanford, Governor Rick Perry and Governor Sonny Perdue.
Our victories this year were set in motion in January 2007 when all the governors committed to a four-year plan to win back the majority of governorships for the GOP.
Thanks to strategic targeting and disciplined budgeting, the RGA carried forward more than $14 million into 2009 and had the resources to invest $13 million in New Jersey and Virginia.
Barely more than one year ago, President Obama carried both states by wide margins and there was talk that the Republican Party was hopelessly lost.
Bob McDonnell, Chris Christie, and the RGA proved this year that by focusing on the issues voters care about and by running the right type of campaigns, Republicans can win anywhere in the country.
In Virginia, Bob McDonnell won an impressive victory against an opponent he defeated by just 323 votes four years ago and in a state that hadn’t elected a Republican to the governorship in 12 years.
Bob also led a GOP ticket that became only the second in history to sweep all three statewide offices.
Chris Christie’s winning margin over Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine was the largest for a Republican since 1985. Chris proved that even in a state where registered Democrats overwhelmingly outnumber registered Republicans, we can still win by focusing on pocketbook issues like taxes and jobs.
Bob McDonnell, Chris Christie, and the RGA created a successful model for how we will win many of our targeted states next year. The candidates focused on their positive
message and vision for their states while the RGA made game changing investments and ran tough, on-target independent ad campaigns that focused on their opponents’ records and liberal ties.
Last, I want to thank everyone who helped the RGA succeed this year: the people who came to forums and exchanged ideas so my colleagues and I could help our constituents; RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers and the talented staff; the RGA finance committee; and the many contributors who believe in our cause.
I look forward to a BIG year for the RGA in 2010.
Sincerely,
Governor Haley BarbourRGA Chairman
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGEHALEY BARBOUR, MISSISSIPPI
“If there was one big winner…it was [the] Republican Governors Association. In what turned out to be a
brilliant move, the RGA ran TV ads attacking independent Chris Daggett. What happened? Daggett got just
6% of the vote, which was down considerably from the double digits he was receiving in polls just a week
or two ago. As one very smart Democratic pollster told First Read, Corzine’s best path to victory was having
Daggett get 12% of the vote, enabling Corzine to win with 45%. As it turns out, Corzine got his 45%. But
with Daggett getting only 6%, that’s how Christie was able to win, 49%-45%.”
- MSNBC First Read, 11/4/09
Governor Barbour speaking at the 2009 RGA Annual Gala.REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
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NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA
The RGA knew that winning either the New Jersey race or the Virginia race would be a formidable challenge. Democrats in Virginia had won the last two governors’ races and the last two U.S. Senate races, and taken control of the state senate.
The Democrats’ gains in Virginia culminated in President Obama becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 to carry the state.
On top of all that, Governor Tim Kaine was also serving as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
In New Jersey, Chris Christie was facing a deep-pocketed incumbent who would spend more than $30 million on the campaign. Christie was limited to spending less than $12 million because he had opted into the state’s public financing system.
Democrats also outnumbered Republicans by 700,000 and have long benefited from the political infrastructure put in place through decades of dominating the state.
We invested a total of $5.5 million in the Virginia governor’s race, which despite McDonnell’s wide victory margin, was still a two-point race in the middle of September.
We knew governors’ races develop earlier than most other campaigns, so we contributed $2 million to McDonnell’s campaign in the spring, allowing him to go up on TV during May sweeps
and define the race on his terms. The issues he introduced in those ads remained central throughout the campaign and they would not have aired if not for the RGA.
In the fall, RGA launched an independent expenditure campaign that decimated Creigh Deeds. We started by running ads in every Virginia media market outside Washington, D.C. detailing Deeds’ record as Richmond’s biggest spender and his plan to hike taxes. After four weeks, the ads had flipped Deeds’ image by twenty points and he had a negative favorability rating downstate.
In October, we began a $1.8 million advertising campaign in the Washington, D.C. media market using footage of Deeds struggling to answer reporters’ questions in a post-debate press conference. The Washington Post called our ads “devastating” and “decisive” to the final outcome.
The RGA’s impact in New Jersey was the difference maker. We spent more than $7 million waging an aggressive independent expenditure campaign that began in April. With Christie unable to spend money during the summer because he opted into
the state’s public financing system, the RGA aired $5 million of broadcast TV ads in the New York City and Philadelphia media markets. We kept the focus on Jon Corzine’s failed record as governor and carried Christie through Labor Day with an 8-point lead. Real Clear Politics published an analysis of our summer efforts in New Jersey titled ”With Christie Spending Limited, RGA to the Rescue.”
We continued running ads throughout the fall and were the first to recognize the threat posed by Independent candidate Chris Daggett. We executed a campaign on television and radio and through the mail that made a vote for Daggett unacceptable for most New Jerseyans. After peaking at 20 percent in the public polls, Daggett finished with less than 6 percent of the vote on Election Day.
We closed in New Jersey by doubling our ad buy in the final week, making sure that Republicans would be on TV at the same level as Jon Corzine.
THE RGA IN 2009: SHIFTING THE PENDULUM OF PARTY MOMENTUM
“There’s no other way to say it: The RGA knocked it out of the park.”
- Politico, 11/4/09
Bob McDonnell on the campaign trail.
“The RGA came in and changed the framework of the election.”
- Creigh Deeds’ media consultant, Politico, 11/4/09
“There is no bigger strategic winner last night than Haley Barbour and the Republican Governors [Association]...It ought to make a lot of Democratic candidates for governor nervous that...Haley Barbour knows what he is doing, and they’re not messing around at that Republican Governors Association.”
- MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, 11/4/09
Chris Christie working the rope line at a rally with supporters. Christie’s victory margin was the largest by a GOP candidate for governor since 1985.
8
Victories in New Jersey and Virginia mean that RGA will head into 2010 with 24 governors. The RGA is the only Republican committee to post a net gain since the end of 2006 and we have a plan to reclaim a majority of governorships for the GOP by the end of next year. The four-year plan instituted by governors in January 2007 will result in the RGA carrying forward a record amount of cash-on-hand at the end of the year. With 37 races set to take place, the 2010 electoral playing field will be the most expansive in history. Our strong financial position will ensure we will not miss any opportunities.
HOLDING OUR GROUND
In 2010, the RGA will defend 7 states held by governors who are eligible to run for reelection. In many of these states our incumbents are popular with the voters and have bright reelection prospects. The RGA expects the Democrats to target some of these states but we are confident that with the right strategy we can win every race.
The RGA will also have 11 open seat races in states where our governors are not running again.
There will be high profile races in California, Florida, Georgia, and Minnesota along with elections in Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
TAKING CONTROL
The RGA will be on offense in a record number of states currently controlled by Democrats. The Democrats will be forced to defend incumbents in 9 states, nearly all of whom are vulnerable.
And with 10 open Democratic seats, we have a tremendous opportunity to redraw the political map. We can compete in every open Democratic state: Kansas, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
THE IMPACT OF 2010
Electing more Republican governors has never been more important. The RGA believes Republicans won’t win back the U.S. Senate, House or Presidency until first reclaiming a majority of governorships for the GOP.
Governors and candidates for governor are the leading political figures in their states and can have tremendous impact on down -ballot races. Moreover, they are able to build and organize the critical state Party infrastructure needed to win close elections.
The results of the 2010 elections will also have an even bigger than usual political impact because governors and state legislatures will be redrawing legislative districts in 2011. In many states, the governor has tremendous influence in redistricting.
The Washington Post called RGA’s Virginia ads “devastating” and “decisive.”
- 10/27/09 & 11/4/09
“The strategic smarts demonstrated by the RGA bodes well for Republicansas the focus moves to the 37 governors races on the ballot next November.”
- The Washington Post, 11/4/09THE RGA IN 2010: LOOKING AHEAD
Governors Mark Sanford, Donald Carcieri, and Dave Heineman.
Governor Jim Douglas, First Lady Dorothy Douglas, and Lt. Governor of Hawai’i and gubernatorial candidate James ”Duke” Aiona.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
Political Dollars Spent
Overhead/Fundraising Costs
Money Put In Reserve
1110
“With Christie spending limited, RGA to the rescue.”- Real Clear Politics, 10/8/09
Republican Political Strategist Karl Rove wrote in The Wall Street Journal that the RGA played “a decisive role in both states, spending $13 million on early and extensive TV blitzes. In Virginia, the association tattooed Mr. Deeds as a tax raiser and slippery liberal. In New Jersey, they cut Mr. Daggett's support in half by arguing a vote for him is a vote for Mr. Corzine.” - 10/28/09
*2009 Estimate for money raised.
*2010 Estimate.
The RGA had 5 goals we wanted to achieve in 2009: win at least one governors’ race, raise and carry forward a record amount of money, put the RGA on the national stage with the media, recruit and develop top-tier candidates in all our 2010 targeted states, and become a first-rate policy resource for our governors and candidates.
As you see outlined in this report, we have succeeded in meeting these goals.
We also welcomed three new governors: Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Utah Governor Gary Herbert. This year has been one of the toughest in history to be a governor and all three are meeting the challenge.
The 22 current Republican governors will soon be joined by Governor-elect Chris Christie in New Jersey and Governor-elect Bob McDonnell in Virginia. The RGA made an unprecedented impact in both races, which we detail throughout this book.
Despite an extremely challenging fundraising climate in the first two quarters of 2009 driven by a weak economy and seemingly shifting political winds, the RGA is positioned to break our fundraising record. The Executive Roundtable (ER), our new personal donor program, is a major reason we will meet our goal. We began this year with just 22 ER members who contributed $25,000 or more to the RGA but expect to end the year with more than 300 members.
Our efforts in the 2010 elections began in earnest this year. We recruited an incredible field of candidates to run for governor. We then spent an intense few days in Idaho this summer equipping our candidates with all the resources they need to run a strong campaign. They heard from some of the brightest minds in our Party and learned what it takes to succeed as a candidate and a governor.
We also produced a Republican Governors Best Practices Book that provides our governors and candidates with more than 350 pages of tested policy ideas that could work in their states.
We could not have done any of this without the support of our governors and our donors. I want to especially thank Governor Barbour – he works tirelessly for our cause and I can think of no better chairman to be leading the RGA through this election cycle.
As a result of the wins in New Jersey and Virginia this year and the early preparation for the 37 races taking place next year, I am confident that we will reclaim a majority of governorships for the GOP by the end of 2010.
Sincerely,
Nick AyersExecutive Director, RGA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGENICK AYERS
RGA BY THE NUMBERSMoney Raised vs. Money Spent by Year
40,000,000
35,000,000
30,000,000
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009*
0
MO
NEY
RAI
SED
Review of Cash on Hand at Beginning of the Year
25,000,000
20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010*
2,000,000
0
Previous 4 year cycle without 4 year plan Current 4 year cycle with 4 year plan enacted
Record Investments
Virginia$5.5 million
New Jersey$7.3 million
1312
2009: A YEAR IN REVIEW
The Republican Governors hold a governors-only meeting at the 2008 Annual Conference in Miami.
Governor Haley Barbour and Governor Tim Pawlenty exchange microphones and handshakes in Aspen.
The Republican Governors meet to discuss election goals and strategy at the 2008 Annual Conference.
Chris Christie, joined by his family, accepts the Republican Party’s nomination after winning the primary.
Governor Rick Perry accepts a shotgun in appreciation for his service as RGA Chairman at the 2008 Annual Conference.
Governor Haley Barbour campaigns with Bob McDonnell on the Saturday before Election Day.
Governors John Hoeven, Haley Barbour, and Sonny Perdue host a forum in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Pawlenty(MN) Lynch (NH)
Douglas (VT)
Paterson (NY)
Rendell(PA)
Kulongoski(OR)
Gregoire(WA) Baldacci
(ME)
Patrick (MA)
Carcieri (RI)
Markell(DE)
Christie (NJ)
Rell (CT)
O’Malley (MD)
Lingle(HI)
Schwarzenegger(CA)
Gibbons(NV)
Otter(ID)
Brewer(AZ)
Schweitzer(MT)
Freudenthal(WY)
Ritter(CO)
Herbert(UT)
Richardson(NM)
Parnell(AK)
Rounds(SD)
Hoeven(ND)
Heineman(NE)
Parkinson(KS)
Henry(OK)
Perry(TX)
Culver(IA)
Nixon(MO)
Beebe(AR)
Bredesen (TN)
Beshear (KY)McDonnell (VA)
Perdue (NC)
Manchin (WV)
Barbour(MS)
Doyle(WI)
Quinn(IL)
Daniels(IN)
Granholm(MI)
Strickland(OH)
Jindal(LA)
Riley(AL)
Perdue(GA)
Sanford(SC)
Crist(FL)
15
2010 GOVERNORS: PARTY CONTROL
GOVERNORS: 2010 SEATS UP
Pawlenty(MN) Lynch (NH)
Douglas (VT)
Paterson (NY)
Rendell(PA)
Kulongoski(OR)
Baldacci(ME)
Patrick (MA)
Carcieri (RI)
Rell (CT)
O’Malley (MD)
Lingle(HI)
Schwarzenegger(CA)
Gibbons(NV)
Otter(ID)
Brewer(AZ)
Freudenthal(WY)
Ritter(CO)
Richardson(NM)
Parnell(AK)
Rounds(SD)
Heineman(NE)
Parkinson(KS)
Henry(OK)
Perry(TX)
Culver(IA)
Beebe(AR)
Bredesen (TN)
Doyle(WI)
Quinn(IL)
Granholm(MI)
Strickland(OH)
Riley(AL)
Perdue(GA)
Sanford(SC)
Crist(FL)
Herbert(UT)
PARTYRepublican (24)
Democrat (26)
PARTY/RACE STATUSGOP Incumbent (7)
DEM Open Seat (10)
GOP Open Seat (11)
DEM Incumbent (9)
1514
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
PAST CHAIRMEN1963-66 Gov. Robert Smylie, Idaho
1966-67 Gov. John A. Love, Colorado
1967-68 Gov. John H. Chafee, Rhode Island
1968-70 Gov. Ronald W. Reagan, California
1970-71 Gov. Louise B. Nunn, Kentucky
1971-72 Gov. William G. Milliken, Michigan
1972-73 Gov. Linwood Holton, Virginia
1973-74 Gov. Winfield Dunn, Tennessee
1974-75 Gov. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri
1975-76 Gov. Arch A. Moore, West Virginia
1976-77 Gov. Robert F. Bennett, Kansas
1977-78 Gov. Robert D. Ray, Iowa
1978-79 Gov. Otis R. Bowen, Indiana
1979-80 Gov. Richard A. Snelling, Vermont
1980-81 Gov. John Dalton, Virginia
1981-82 Gov. James R. Thompson, Illinois
1982-83 Gov. Richard D. Orr, Indiana
1983-84 Gov. Victor G. Atiyeh, Oregon
1984-85 Gov. Dick Thornburgh, Pennsylvania
1985-86 Gov. John Sununu, New Hampshire
1986-87 Gov. Thomas H. Kean, New Jersey
1987-88 Gov. Michael N. Castle, Delaware
1988-89 Gov. Mike Hayden, Kansas
1989-90 Gov. John Ashcroft, Missouri
1990-91 Gov. Carroll Campbell, South Carolina
1991-92 Gov. Tommy Thompson, Wisconsin
1992-93 Gov. George V. Voinovich, Ohio
1993-94 Gov. John R. McKernan, Maine
1994-95 Gov. Michael O. Leavitt, Utah
1995-96 Gov. John Engler, Michigan
1996-97 Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Iowa
1997-98 Gov. David Beasley, South Carolina
1998-99 Gov. Frank Keating, Oklahoma
1999-00 Gov. Ed Schafer, North Dakota
2000-01 Gov. Jim Gilmore, Virginia
2001-01 Gov. Tom Ridge, Pennsylvania
2001-02 Gov. John Rowland, Connecticut
2002-03 Gov. Bill Owens, Colorado
2003-04 Gov. Bob Taft, Ohio
2004-05 Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada
2005-06 Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts
2006-07 Gov. Sonny Perdue, Georgia
2007-08 Gov. Rick Perry, Texas
2008-09 Gov. Mark Sanford, South Carolina
2009-Present Gov. Haley Barbour, Mississippi
PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS1963-64 Robert B McCall
1966 Carl A. McMurray
1967-69 Richard T. Fleming
1971-75 Buehl Berentson
1976-1980 Ralph E. Griffith
1980-81 Ronald Rietdorf
1981 John L. Stevens
1982-85 Carol A. Whitney
1985-91 Michele M. Davis
1991-95 Chris Henick
1995-96 Paul D. Hatch
1996 LeAnne Wilson
1997 Brian Kennedy
1997-00 Clinton Key
2000-01 Michael McSherry
2001 Duncan Campbell
2001-02 Clinton Key
2002-2004 Edward T. Tobin III
2004-05 Mike Pieper
2005-2006 Phillip A. Musser
2006-Present Nick Ayers
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
1716
Mike Adams—General Counsel
Nick Ayers—Executive Director
Paul Bennecke—Deputy Executive Director and Political Director
Catherine Campbell—Political Assistant
Campbell Engle—Governors Board Director
Molly Flanagan—Governors Liaison
DiAnne Graham—Executive Roundtable Director
Katherine Haltiwanger—Governors Council Director
Kaylee Heathcott—Events Assistant
Adam Kincaid—Director of Policy and Research
Lauren Lofstrom—Governors Roundtable and Governors Club Membership Director
Sarah Lynch—Governors Statesmen and Governors Cabinet Director
Angela Meyers—Finance Director
Tricia Moffatt—Events Director
Maggie Rauck—Finance Assistant
Mike Schrimpf—Communications Director
Millicent Segura—Compliance Assistant
Alex Skatell—Director of New Media
Alyssa Smith—Membership Coordinator
Anne Thompson—Director of Scheduling
Kyle Vitasek—Video Production Coordinator
Tim Whiting—Compliance Director
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION STAFF
RGA staff with Chairman Haley Barbour. Election Night, 2009.
RGA Staff with Governor Rick Perry in Aspen.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
RGA
“We subscribe to the theory that we will not get the U.S. Senate, House, or Presidency back until first reclaiming a majority of Republican Governorships.
The RGA has a plan between now and November 2010 to do just that. We are the only national committee that can accept unlimited corporate and personal dollars.”
Join our cause at www.RGA.org