Money Talks
The July 15th campaign finance reporting date has come and gone, but statewide and local candidates will race to raise even more before the next report is due in September. A new favorite weapon in campaign arsenals is money: how much, where it came from and who it came from. Campaigns are now dissecting the latest reports to formulate arguments about whose money is most legitimate.
Creigh Deeds has reason to brag after campaign finance reports came out on July 15th. Deeds raised an impressive $3.4 million last month, boasting that he almost doubled the $1.8 million raised by republican opponent Bob McDonnell. The McDonnell campaign responded, pointing out that their $4.9 million cash-on-hand total is "far more money in the bank, from far more donors, than its democratic opponent." Deeds has about $2.7 million in cash-on-hand.
The top contributors for each gubernatorial candidate are another point of attack. Deeds criticized McDonnell for having only 30% of his total contributions coming from Virginia, while 63% of his own came from in state. McDonnell fired back, focusing on the number of individual contributions, saying that 75% of his donors are from Virginia. Deeds’ top donors for this cycle were the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Democratic National Committee. Businessmen Richard Gillman and Joseph Luter came in at the top of McDonnell’s latest report.
In a recent Rasmussen Reports poll, McDonnell edged ahead of Deeds by 43% to 41%. These numbers have led to questions about whether Deeds' spike in fundraising was a result of his surprise victory in the democratic primary. However, the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, making the numbers statistically insignificant. With ten percent of polled voters still undecided between the two candidates, money may play a significant role in capturing the swing votes.
The statewide race for attorney general will also need a tie-breaker bigger than a bank account determine the winner. Republican Ken Cuccinelli reported raising $291,704, coming in just ahead of his opponent, democrat Steve Shannon at $284,733. The lieutenant governor’s race is the only statewide race that has a clear winner so far in the money war. Republican incumbent Bill Bolling raised $366,141, with a balance of $1,117,699 after expenses, while his opponent raised $231,661, with an ending balance of only $187,980.Verizon is a top contributor for both the attorney general and the lieutenant governor’s races, and remains relatively bipartisan giving 44% to democratic candidates and 55% to republican candidates.
Candidates for the House of Delegates are equally concerned with fattening their bank accounts as Election Day approaches. With last month’s contributions tipping the scales at $128,860, democrat incumbent Paul Nichols of Prince William County took the lead for the most funds raised. His opponent, Richard Anderson, raised only $12,000. Republican Dave Albo of Springfield came in second raising $127,787 and although this race is predicted to be one of the most expensive races in the country, Albo’s opponent, Greg Werkheiser, only raised a $30,000 this period.
The greatest source of funding to the democrat if House candidates was from the Democratic House Caucus which dumped over $196,000 into highly coveted and contested districts across the state, including the Albo – Werkheiser race for the 42nd district seat. The top donors to republican candidates were the Virginia Banker’s Association and Verizon, each donating $56,950. A smattering of hospital organizations, law firms and other business organizations also donated to candidates, but constituent contributions were also an important piece of the puzzle.
The countdown is on until the next reporting date. As the date grows closer, inquiries from campaigns asking for money will become much more pressing and urgent saying, “This is the time to donate! We need your help!” Elections are a costly game.