Kennedy Raises Record Amount for DCCC

Kennedy Raises Record Amount for DCCC, but Faints at Fundraiser

Congressman Patrick Kennedy raised a record amount during the first quarter of 1999 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In filings with the Federal Election Committee, the DCCC reported that it had received $6.8 million in the first three months of this year. This was twice what the committee had raised during the comparable time leading up to the 1998 election cycle.

Kennedy told the Washington Post that large Washington contributors were responsible for much of the largesse. "Clearly the lobbyist community is hedging their bets, and for good reason. We're poised to take the House back," he said.

Kennedy's joy was short-lived, however. Flying with President Clinton on Air Force One to a DCCC fundraising reception to Boston, Kennedy cut his finger badly on a receptable for paper towels. He had to have his wounded finger stitched up by the doctor accompanying the president.

Later that day, Kennedy fainted at the Massachusetts fundraiser held at the house of Alan Solomont, former finance chair of the Democratic National Committee. According to the Boston Globe, though, Kennedy "regained his composure enough to urge the Democrats to push for health care as good as the president's."