Earlier this afternoon I noted that the Democratic Congresional Campaign Committee has about 17 times more money in the bank than its GOP counterpart, the National Republcian Congressional Committee. I turns out that that might not be the most embarrassing statistic to come out of the third quarter fundraising reports.

According to its latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, the NRCC had $1,598,505.61 in the bank as of September 30. The committee's debts total $3,850,000, meaning that the NRCC is actually in the red for $2,251,494.39.

For comparison's sake, take a look at the latest campaign filing by Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, who was first elected last fall in the Republican leaning 20th district of New York. As of the end of September, Gillibrand reported having $1,631,852.36 in the bank and owing no debts or obligations. That means that one single freshman Democrat had more money on hand than the entire NRCC -- and significantly more money when debts and obligations are taken into account. I neither have the time nor the resources to look into this, but one would imagine that such a comparison is unprecedented, at least in recent history. So no wonder the Republican leadership in the House has been trying to shake up the leadership of the committee for some time.

Once again, here's the list of the Blue Dogs (plus Sestak) who are against the supplemental because of the conditions it imposes. I removed Kirsten Gillibrand, because she signaled she'd vote for the bill after internal deliberations and public pressure from her supporters.

Here's the list, with three new members (Lincoln Davis (TN-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), and Bob Ethridge (NC-02)). Lots of Indiana reps on the list, which is nice because it's Evan Bayh whose wavering in the Senate (along with the Nelsons, of course).

Michael Arcuri (NY-24)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Melissa Bean (IL-08)
Dan Boren (OK-02)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Bud Cramer (AL-02)
Lincoln Davis (TN-04)
Joe Donnelly (IN-02)
Brad Ellsworth (IN-08)
Bob Ethridge (NC-02)
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20) ???
Baron Hill (IN-09)
Tim Mahoney (FL-16)
Jim Marshall (GA-08)
Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
John Salazar (CO-03)
Joe Sestak (PA-07)
Heath Shuler (NC-11)
Gene Taylor (MS-04)

Today's big win in the Appropriations Committee is good for momentum. Win or lose, Pelosi is an amazing Speaker.

From a source close to the House Democratic caucus, here's a list of Blue Dogs that don't want to vote for this bill because it has a certain date for withdrawal.  

Michael Arcuri (NY-24)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Melissa Bean (IL-08)
Dan Boren (OK-02)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Bud Cramer (AL-02)
Brad Ellsworth (IN-08)
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20)
Baron Hill (IN-09)
Tim Mahoney (FL-16)
Jim Marshall (GA-08)
Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
John Salazar (CO-03)
Joe Sestak (PA-07)
Heath Shuler (NC-11)
Gene Taylor (MS-04)

It's sad to see some freshmen we supported on the list.  Joe Sestak, Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Arcuri had some online support from the progressive netroots.  Tim Mahoney, Heath Shuler, Brad Ellsworth, and Baron Hill were mostly to nearly all Rahm recruits.

These people are the Democrats that held Pelosi and the progressive hostage on the language for a firm withdrawal.  They are keeping the war going.  They need to be brought over.

UPDATE: Sestak isn't a Blue Dog, and I'm told that Kirsten Gillibrand just wants to see the bill first. Mmmkay. Color me skeptical. A simple public statement would do wonders.

UPDATE AGAIN: Kirsten Gillibrand has publicly stated she will vote for the supplemental.

What took them so long?

The piece today is topped off by a photo with Kirsten, plus Mom and son, at the airport.

(Kirsten has wild hair, the little boy's is spookily neat. Mom - won't be appearing in any I thought you were sisters ads.)

It's short and shallow - but with one or two snippets of note.

[In the spirit of the site's winding down for Christmas.]

One of the common features of candidate sites are piles of crappy snaps.

Not only do they usually portray the candidate unattractively, they do the same to those supporters, endorsing elected officials and others who have the misfortune to be snapped with said candidate.

(There were exceptions - Patrick Murphy of PA-8 on his site had a stunning photo featuring him and his wife in his campaign HQ office. But precious few of them.)

Kirsten Gillibrand's site was mostly snaps - though relieved by the fact that both she and her little boy were well beyond cute.

Now, I come across a great photo of the two of them on the site of the Women Under Forty PAC - or WUFPAC. (Really.)

Metphorically speaking.

John Spratt of SC is a senior guy in the Dem House hierarchy: ranking member on Budget and Assistant to the Leader.

However, he's not being of much assistance right now: reportedly, he has gone public about planning to vote for Hoyer for Maj Leader!

Did Spratt get the rubber hose treatment from the Signora as did freshmen like Gillibrand? Or was she well aware such blandishments would be futile?

It all adds to the puzzle about the status of Pelosi's support for Murtha. How far is she making supporting Murtha a litmus test of the loyalty of House Dems?

Has anyone being counting these public expressions of voting intention? There's not only the whip count aspect, but also the size of the cohort coming out for Hoyer is a measure of the willingness of the House party to defy its leader.

At least there's only a few hours before we get the result...

[At last, a new angle!]

The Albany Times-Union picks up that NY-20 freshman, lefty sphere favorite and yummy mummy par excellence Kirsten Gillibrand has been given the Pelosi Treatment over her intention to vote Hoyer.

Our Kirsten was not, it seems, to be overawed:

John Edwards is helping elect D-WFP Congressional candidates Mike Arcuri, Eric Massa and Kirsten Gillibrand. John and the WFP have recorded robocalls that are going out to voters in NY-24, NY-29 and NY-20. With all the coverage of negative robocalls, I wanted to share these positive calls. Listen to all three:

• John Edwards robocall for Mike Arcuri in NY-24
• John Edwards robocall for Eric Massa in NY-29
• John Edwards robocall for Kirsten Gillibrand in NY-20

This is part of the Working Families Party's effort to Take Back Congress.  Check out the rest of the Working Families Party's Take Back Congress campaign material.  And then check out the Working Families Party's 2006 endorsements.

New Yorkers can vote for D-WF candidates on the WFP's ballot line, Row E.  Your vote still counts to elect the candidate you vote for, and you can vote your values.

Good luck tomorrow everyone!