Steve Sarvi raises $145,000 in second quarter

Steve Sarvi reported today that his campaign raised $145,889 in the second quarter. This doubles what he's raised in total and is a respectable amount considering how little attention he's gotten until recently. His decent quarter comes just after the Cook Political Report upgraded his chances of upsetting John Kline (R). The race has changed from Solidly Republican to Likely Republican. Steve has also hired another fundraiser so he's likely to do even better. Here's his press release:

In anticipation of its official 2nd Quarter finance filing, Steve Sarvi for Congress is releasing the following results:

• Q208 Raised: $145,889
• Cash on hand: $95,000
• Raised to-date: $250,732 (does not include $10,000 loan from candidate to campaign)

The campaign’s 2nd Quarter numbers represent nearly a two-and-a-half fold increase on its previous quarter and a three-fold increase on its 4th Quarter 2007 results.
“Our growing support from contributors shows that this is a campaign heading steadily in the right direction,” said Eileen Weber, manager, Steve Sarvi for Congress. “Coupled with the national recognition the campaign is receiving, we’re more confident than ever that this is the year voters will bring change to how the 2nd District is represented in Congress.”

New Finance Team in Place

Joining the Sarvi team in May, Cathy Braaten has taken the reins as finance director. Cathy has worked in-state and out-of-state raising funds for political campaigns and nonprofits. Her political experience includes a congressional campaign in Kentucky, the successful 2007 St. Paul City Council re-election campaign of Dan Bostrom, and most recently the MN-03 campaign of Ashwin Madia.
Braaten rounds out a team including Deputy Finance Director Josh Lease, who has been with the Sarvi campaign since January, and two finance assistants.

Don't forget that the former mayor of Watertown hasn't had much for PAC contributions. I think as people realize that this could be a close race, the Democratic political PACs will start giving. OpenSecrets.org reports that Steve had only raised $9,800 in PAC money, so it is likely that his improving chances means more issue PACs will be sending checks.

In case you don't know why Steve's chances are realistic, here's the basics:

• Steve Sarvi is a Kosovo and Iraq vet which counteracts John Kline's military experiences.
• Kline is wrong on Iraq.
• Kline is wrong on vet issues

• Steve was city administrator for 3 small towns and mayor of Watertown, he understands fiscal responsibility
• Kline has signd onto blank check after blank check for the occupation of Iraq
• Kline has voted for taxes breaks for the richest 1% during wartime

• Kline is quite unpopular, his approval rating is only 39% and his fair/poor rating is 44%.
• Kline and his staff have a habit of rudeness
• Politicians throughout the 2nd district (both parties) understand that Kline hasn't delivered the projects the district so desperately needs. They are called earmarks and before he swore them off, he didn't deliver much of anything.

• This could likely be a sweeping Democratic election like 2006.
• This district is rated R+3.
• Kline is way more conservative than his district.
• In 2006 DFLers increased from 2 of 18 to 8 of 18 of the State House seats.
• With Kevin Dahle's special election, DFLers have a majority of the Senate seats in the district.