Wilson will be 'sickened' if NRCC doesn't spend money in District 3

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- By law, retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton can’t tell the National Republican Congressional Committee what to do with the $400,000 he just donated to them.

But Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson has a good idea of where the money should go: to the cash strapped Chris Myers, who’s running as Saxton’s choice to fill his 3rd Congressional District seat. Myers is running against Democratic State Sen. John Adler, who as of the last filing period had about 10 times Myers’s cash-on-hand.

So far, the NRCC hasn’t made any public commitments to the district. When asked if he would be disappointed if the NRCC didn’t commit any resources to the 3rd District, Wilson was candid.

“If they don’t, I’ll be more than disappointed. I’ll be sickened, and I’ll be pissed,” he said. “I can tell them to. They don’t have to listen to me. Once the money is in their treasury it’s theirs to do what they will with, but hopefully his colleagues will be respectful of his commitment to the caucus and make sure that his seat stays in Republican hands.”

State Sen. Leonard Lance is also running at a huge cash-on-hand disadvantage to Democrat Linda Stender in the race to replace departing U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson. Not to mention former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer, whose cash-on-hand is dwarfed by incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg’s. All around, Republicans are running at a huge cash disadvantage, but Wilson thinks the money talk is overblown.

“I’m sure it’s going to improve. John Adler has been raising money for this race since 1994. Linda Stender has been raising money since 4 years ago,” he said. “They’ve had a head start. Congressman Zimmer only go t into the race in April. There will be some leveling of the field.”