McAuliffe setting record-smashing money pace
Let’s put the $4.2 million that Terry McAuliffe raised for his gubernatorial campaign in the first three months of 2009 in perspective. Mark Warner, the Big Kahuna, raised $1.4 million for his gubernatorial campaign in the first quarter of 2001. To be fair, Warner was a Democrat in what was then a Republican state, so that was actually quite impressive in terms of a campaign warchest. Tim Kaine in ’05 raised $2.6 million in the first quarter on his way to amassing a cash stockpile of $20.6 million all told that year.
This is easily a record-breaking election money-wise if McAuliffe gets the nod and runs to the finish line in November.
“We are thrilled with the grassroots and fundraising support we have received over the last few months,” McAuliffe campaign manager Mike Henry said. “Virginians are looking for a governor who will continue the Warner-Kaine tradition of leadership and bring both business and executive experience to Richmond. Terry’s decades of experience creating jobs and turning around struggling businesses, as well as his detailed plans to get Virginia’s economy back on track, have resonated with Virginia voters.”
The McAuliffe Money Machine could have an impact on the chances of Democrats to win back a majority in the House of Delegates. McAuliffe told me back in December and has reiterated since that he would consider it his duty as the party’s gubernatorial standard-bearer to make sure that Democratic Party House candidates across the Commonwealth had access to campaign funding. How that would play out with the four Democrats challenging Republican incumbents in the Central Shenandoah Valley would remain to be seen.
- Story by Chris Graham
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Update: Brian Moran campaign announces fundraising numbers
Brian Moran’s grassroots campaign has surpassed its fundraising goals for the first quarter of 2009 by more than doubling the pace of the previous fundraising period. The campaign raised more in this 3-month period than in the previous 6-month period. The totals for the first quarter are “putting us in a position to have the resources to win,” according to campaign officials. Jim Webb convincingly won his primary in 2006 despite being vastly outspent.
“People are investing in Brian’s grassroots campaign because his life story speaks to the challenges Virginians feel today, and he has proven he is ready to fight for the hard-working men and women of the Commonwealth,” Campaign Chair Mame Reiley said. During this period, the campaign continued to invest in its grassroots campaign, deployed the cutting-edge Organize Virginia online organizing system, and made its first media purchase of the election.
Reiley announced that the campaign raised over $800,000 during the most recent finance period of 3 months, exceeding the amount raised in the last 6 months of 2008. Since starting the campaign committee in January of 2008, the campaign has raised nearly $3 million. Over 90% of dollars contributed and contributors this period came from within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“We’re proud of the momentum building behind Brian all across the Commonwealth,” Reiley said. “Our goal is to have enough to fully communicate Brian’s background and message of fighting for Virginia – we are ahead of that pace. We expect to be outspent, but we also expect to win. Virginia Democrats have long confirmed that money in and of itself does not sway them to a candidate. Instead, they want someone who is a proven fighter for their families and a leader who can win in November.”
McAuliffe’s news is good news to the owners of TV and radio stations in the Commonwealth. Most of the money will be going to them. Maybe the newspapers will get some too.
Chris, when McAuliffe comes calling, buy your wife something nice.
It’s double good news – because it means the other Mac has to raise as close to whatever Terry Mac raises to stay competitive. More for the TV, more for the radio, a pittance for the newspapers and magazines and blogs.
McDonnell will have all the oppo research he’ll need by June 9.
And will the Democrats fight harder to save New Jersey governor Corzine or elect a Democrat in Virginia? I’ve seen some polls where Corzine is in trouble, just like the Democrat who lost a reelection bid in 1993.
If the Republicans in Virginia implode as it appears they will in the wake of the Frederick fiasco, I’d say I expect national Republicans will focus their attention up Jersey way.
Today, Joe Abbey, campaign manager for the Deeds for Virginia campaign, announced Creigh Deeds’ cash-on-hand numbers for the first quarter.
Creigh Deeds was unable to raise money for 46 days of the first quarter because of a state ban prohibiting fundraising during the session of the General Assembly, yet he raised more money in 44 days than in the previous 6 months. The Deeds campaign raised well over $600,000 in the first quarter and currently has $1.2 million cash-on-hand. More than 97 percent of Deeds’ contributors are Virginians.
Creigh’s opponents had twice as much time to fundraise. Brian Moran even resigned his seat so he could raise money full-time for his campaign, but it didn’t pay off. Creigh now has 41 percent more cash on-hand than Brian.
“Many people said Creigh was foolish to give up 46 days to raise money for his campaign so he could stay and fight for middle class families in the Virginia Senate,” said Joe Abbey. “But he wasn’t going to walk away from tough decisions during the most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression. Creigh proved the pundits wrong once again. We’ve said all along that we will have the resources we need to let people know that Creigh is the only candidate who’s prepared to continue the legacy of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.”
According to the Rothenberg Political Report, there is “no clear frontrunner in this race” and with 45 percent of Virginia primary voters still undecided, Deeds is in a strong position to secure the nomination on June 9th.
“Mark Warner proved that Democrats need to compete and win in every corner of Virginia,” said Joe Abbey. “To win in November we need a nominee who can not only win big in our Democratic strongholds, but also compete in places like Bristol and Big Stone Gap. Creigh Deeds is the only Democrat in this race who can beat Bob McDonnell in every corner of Virginia. He’s the only Democrat who has run a statewide campaign and has a proven record of winning tough elections. We proved that we have the momentum in the Virginia governor’s race. Our strong grassroots efforts are going to make the difference on June 9th and we will continue to work hard for every vote in every community across the Commonwealth.”
With less than 61 days to go before the primary, the Deeds campaign has the momentum in this race. The Virginian-Pilot recently said that Deeds is the Democratic candidate who “most naturally fits into the moderate mold shaped by Mark Warner and Tim Kaine” and this came after The Lynchburg News and Advance said that Deeds “appeals to many of the same centrist Democrats and independents who supported Mark Warner.” The Deeds campaign is running a truly statewide effort to get out the vote on June 9th and the campaign has offices in Charlottesville, Richmond, Portsmouth, and Alexandria.