St. Louis is one of four cities in the running to pick up the Democratic National Convention in 2012. Since Charlie Dooley holds a press conference every time a temp worker gets hired in St. Louis (typically when he and his corrupt bureaucracy had nothing to do with it), his lack of commentary raised some eyebrows. A big convention, and no Dooley trying to get his name in the story?
We half wonder if it has something to do with the Obama-phobia that has local Democrats steering wide and clear of Barack Obama when he comes into town. Dooley may not be anxious to portray himself as best buddies with the DNC.
Then again, he may be wondering if he'll be around in 2012 to see the DNC come into town. He got out-raised in the second quarter, and it's not like he can go around St. Louis County offices with a cup in his hand and demand 1% of his staff's salary (again).
After Bill Corrigan started an early TV ad campaign, Dooley sent out a letter (signed by him, but speaking in the third person, as if he's the Queen of England) with words like 'no-name', 'weakness', etc.
Charlie Dooley: "Charlie Dooley fears no one. Except that guy."
There's only one response needed to that, and it's supplied by Dooley's campaign finance reports:
"TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION: $935,148.26"
If Dooley wasn't afraid of Corrigan, why spend a million dollars?
That's a LOT of money to spend this early - it's how much you spend if you're afraid of losing your office and aren't holding anything back. We're not even through the primary and Dooley's campaign is already spending more than it is taking in.
When Dooley's response to a $100,000 ad campaign is an awkwardly written blast e-mail to some of his volunteers, ask yourself: who is on the offensive and who is reacting?
Dooley has been on the defensive this entire campaign. A lot of his actions (such as ending the practice of subsidizing politicians' cars) only happened when Corrigan made it clear he would drag Dooley's campaign over the coals for it until Election Day.
Our conclusion? Dooley is too worried about 2010 to start thinking about 2012.
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