Did I mention the Pearce forces outspent Lewis by 3-to-1?

by David Safier

Pearce cried poor in his campaign emails and fliers.

I’m going to need the support of good people like you behind me. I’m not a wealthy man. I don’t have the personal resources to put into this campaign. I’m reaching out to you because I desperately need your support – again.

Will you stand with me to stop this recall?

I hate asking for contributions, but I've been around elections long enough to have learned this simple truth: if I do not ask you for money, this group of left-wing extremists will successfully engineer the taking of my Senate seat this November. I have to rely on the contributions and prayers of thousands of likeminded Americans like you, in the hope that you care enough about the values we share to contribute to the effort.

Pearce somehow forgot to mention in his money pitch that as of November 3, he raised what the Cap Times referred to as "eye-popping $230,000 – including donations from more than 40 states." Lewis' numbers were around $69,000 — mostly from Mesa and Arizona, by the way.

Pearce outspent Lewis by more than 3 to 1, and the Pearce campaign traded in lies and dirty tricks. Yet Lewis won, handily.

Yes, money is important. And yes, Republicans can generally outspend Democrats (or outsider Republicans challenging the ultra-conservative establishment), especially now that the independent money spigots have been cranked open by the Citizens United decision. But money isn't everything. It can sway a close vote, but it can't beat back a surge of voter opinion.