Vast majority of Michele Bachmann’s financial support comes from outside the 6th CD
By Karl Bremer
Much has been made of Michele Bachmann’s alleged “grassroots” Minnesota support in her 2009 First Quarter Federal Election Commission report. But a Dump Bachmann analysis reveals that the vast majority of Bachmann’s Minnesota financial support comes not from her constituents but from wealthy donors outside the 6th Congressional District.
Bachmann hauled in a net of $310,585 during the reporting period of January 1-March 31. Of that amount, $252,068 came from individuals and $61,617 came from political party and other committees.
Forty-five percent—$139,780—of Bachmann’s total contributions came in itemized ($200+) contributions from individual Minnesotans. However, more than 79 percent--$110,550—of Bachmann’s itemized contributions from Minnesotans came from outside the 6th CD that Bachmann represents. Only $29,230 came from individuals within the 6th CD. That’s less than 10 percent of her total contributions.
The contributions from outside the 6th CD not only far outstrip Bachmann’s support from her constituents in total amount, but in size of contribution as well. The average size of Bachmann’s itemized contributions from Minnesota donors outside the 6th District was $1,514, while her constituents gave an average of $790.
That’s hardly overwhelming evidence of grassroots support for Bachmann in her own district. In fact, if her report is evidence of anything, it’s of Bachmann’s heavy support among wealthy donors in the western Minneapolis suburbs. For example, 22 percent of Bachmann’s itemized contributions from Minnesota came from the tony 3rd CD communities of Wayzata, Edina and Deephaven alone.
Bachmann collected $80,138 in unitemized (less than $200) individual contributions. But because they are not required to be reported individually, it’s impossible to know where they came from. |
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