BMW Direct Candidates Predictably Lose ElectionsBMW Direct, the notorious direct mail firm famous for striking fundraising deals with loser candidates — predictably lost two of its high profile races this Tuesday.
We mentioned late last week that a BMW client, Deborah Honeycutt — a Republican challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. David Scott in Georgia — looked to be making a small challenge to Scott and had raised almost $4.7 million through BMW Direct, though the vast majority had gone in fees back to the company.
Well Honeycutt lost her race — by the same margin she’d lost in 2006 — 38 percentage points. According to FEC records, Honeycutt has spent $4.3 million this election cycle, $47 for every vote she received.
As for BMW’s other high-profile loser candidate, the Republican challenger to Jack Murtha in Pennsylvania’s 12th District, he lost too. Touted by Michelle Malkin as a “jaw-dropping political miracle” Russell brought in almost $2.5 million through BMW Direct — but spent more than half of that in payments back to the direct mail firm. While he pulled tighter to Murtha at the end of the race, it was more due to the Congressman’s gaffes, than any awe inspired fundraising.
One last thing about Honeycutt — it looks like she’s going to have more to deal with than just a lost election. Scott has filed a federal complaint against Honeycutt for allegedly funding sleazy fliers that called Scott the “worst black congressperson.”
Special thanks to TPM Reader BK for the tip.