There is a great scene in The Last Waltz where Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel sing Old Time Religion for Director Martin Scorsese. The song comes to a crashing halt and Robertson exclaims "It ain't like it used to be".
That is how the Liberals must be feeling of late when it comes to fundraising (hat-tip NealeNews). Chretien's "bag of hammers" is the gift the keeps hitting for the Conservatives as their grassroots nature has then dramatically out-fundraising the Liberals. This is somewhat of a recycled story but I think the effect is only be increased.
...The party that has ruled Canada for most of the last century - and enjoyed an unbroken run in power since 1993 - raised a disappointing $5.2 million in private-sector donations last year, less than half the rival Conservatives who took in $10.9 million.
The Grits stepped up their efforts in the first half of 2005, reporting contributions of $2.2 million between January and March. But they still didn't equal the $2.6 million raised by the Tories.
If the summer BBQ circuit works for the Conservatives they will stretch out their lead. But I would be negligant if I didn't say that one of the aspects of the Sponsorship Scandal is that the Liberals had "off-the-books" ways of getting and giving advertising contracts. Until this is tightened up fundraising won't be enough.
