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DEL.ICIO.USNotes on the money race
Who's got how much money, beginning with the race for lieutenant governor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to Friday’s disclosures, four candidates for lieutenant governor have raised a total of nearly $5 million for the coming campaign — before the first TV ad has been fired.
Or look at it another way: The election season hasn’t even gotten underway, and this quartet has already spent $1.3 million.
As we suspected, Ralph Reed, the former head of the national Christian Coalition and the state GOP, has raised the most ($1.7 million) and has the most cash ($1.4 million) on hand.
He raised $269,461 during the first three months of this year.
As we reported Sunday, Casey Cagle, the state senator from Gainesville, raised $132,937 (for a total of $1.4 million) and has $881,227 in cash on hand. (Scour the print edition for some additional nuggets on Reed’s and Cagle’s money, along with details of cash in the race for governor.)
Of the two Democrats, former state senator Greg Hecht of Jonesboro boasts the most cash raised, but his three-month total includes a $58,000 personal loan.
Hecht raised $238,174 in the latest period, for a total of $1 million. He’s got $789,865 in the bank.
Jim Martin, the former state lawmaker and ex-head of the state Department of Human Resources, raised $157,098 in the first three months of this year, for a total of $744,705.
He’s got $469,297 in the bank.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
In the race for attorney general, Democratic incumbent Thurbert Baker’s major numbers are: $23,451 raised this period; $2 million total raised; $1.25 million cash on hand.
Republican challenger Perry McGuire: $77,161 RTP; $149,578 TR; and $111,810 COH.
STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
In the race for state insurance commissioner, Republican incumbent John Oxendine also boasts a hefty bank account: $60,655 raised this period; $1.5 million total raised; and $1.2 million in cash on hand.
Democratic challenger Guy Drexinger, a Cobb County attorney, reports $53,929 RTP; $261,843 TR; and $130,656 COH.
Much of Drexinger’s money has been spent running a series of early TV ads attacking Oxendine for accepting donations from health and insurance companies.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Depending on how you count it, Republican Karen Handel, now the chairman of the Fulton County Commission, leads fund-raising in the race for secretary of state.
But figured another way, the leader is a Democrat, of all things.
Handel reported $172,506 raised this period, for a total raised of $413,153. She has $309,758 in cash on hand.
Shyam Reddy, the Atlanta attorney and a Democrat, reports $151,149 RTP, for a TR of $486,225. He’s got $408,000 COH — significantly more than Handel.
State Sen. Bill Stephens of Canton, a Republican whose fund-raising was circumscribed by state law, reports $33,675 RTP; $188,517 TR; and $143,308 COH.
Former Democratic lawmaker Walter Ray of Douglas, Ga., reports $86,075 RTP, including a $40,000 personal loan; $86,075 TR; and $78,343 COH.
Scott Holcomb of Atlanta, a Democrat, reports $61,897 RTP, including a $1,741 personal loan; $104,042 TR; and $73,927 COH.
Darryl Hicks of Fayetteville, another Democrat, reports $126,800 RTP; $151,875 TR; and $131,023 COH. [Note to readers: As one of our bloggers pointed out, and we missed, this campaign’s contributions include a $100,000 personal loan. Thanks for the catch. JG]
STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER
In the contest for commissioner of agriculture: Long-time Democratic incumbent Tommy Irvin reports $29,327 raised this period; $2 million total raised; and $588,152 in cash on hand.
By far, the closest Republican to Irvin is Gary Black of Commerce, who reported $104,430 RTP; $430,674 TR; $353,204 COH.
Brian Kemp of Athens, who as a senator was barred from raising money during much of the session, reported $20,295 RTP; $386,086 TR; $164,178 COH.
Two other Republicans who were in the hunt four years ago are barely scratching, moneywise.
Deanna Strickland of Brooklet, Ga., has raised only $1,600 and is $1,418 in debt.
Bob Greer of Cumming, Ga., is $122 in the hole, and going deeper. He listed a $70,000 in-kind contribution for creation of a web site, which exceeds the $5,000 donation cap.
In an appendage, he said he intends to take out a $65,000 personal loan to cover most of the donation.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Franklin
April 10, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this
It looks like some consultant played an evil trick on Bob Greer, because if I read this right he has to pay that $65,000.
By Sam
April 10, 2006 10:25 PM | Link to this
Stephens should pack it in. He doesn’t even have enough to cover his expenses through 7/18. He’s out spent Handel 3-1.
By Thomas
April 10, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this
I thought Sen. Stephens and Sen. Kemp were fiscally conservative. I would hate to see those two with a department budget.
By Jane
April 11, 2006 02:01 AM | Link to this
My candidates Stephens, Kemp, and Cagle were restricted on the amount of time they could put toward fund raising because they cannot legally raise funds when they are in session. So, cut them a little slack. Bob Greer must have miss typed something, that happens and is not big deal as long as he fixes the problem.
By ConservativeFire
April 11, 2006 07:03 AM | Link to this
Looks like everyone could stand to learn a thing or two from Shyam. If Casey Cagle can raise over $100,000 while being restricted, why can’t the other two legislators? Poor excuse. Funny though, the same thing can be said about the other two senators legislative careers. Stephens’s ethical fines are bigger than most fundraisers he’s had, and Mr. Kemp’s new taxes and mandates he introduced are better suited to qualify him as a democrat. What is Kemp, a developer, doing in the Ag commish race anyway? Are there any qualifications for this race?
By Sara
April 11, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this
Or maybe Mr. Cagle got around the restrictions somehow. Did he have others asking on his behalf? Did winks and nods occur during the session? What does common sense tell you?
By Reid
April 11, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this
First to Sara: of course they get around the restrictions. Essentially, you keep collecting checks, you just can’t have fundraisers, and you can’t deposit anything until the session is over. Hence Cagle and Reed and all these others raising so much money “in one day.”
Second: who cares about this money? I’m more worried about the fact that state tax revenues are up, and folks are projecting a big surplus this year.
Of course, our leaders will never give any of that money back to the people it was confiscated from. But that shouldn’t surprise me.
“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” - P.J. O’Rourke
By Jack
April 11, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this
Is it just me, or did the Political Insider miss the $100,000 loan that Darrell Hicks made to himself? 6 figues is a lot to miss, especially since it is prominently listed on page 2, line 3a of his report.
http://www.ethics.state.ga.us/EForms/CCDR/FormCCDR.aspx?CDRID=969
By Sam
April 11, 2006 05:30 PM | Link to this
They missed it
By JackS
April 11, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
I just crunched the numbers and if I”m doing this right then Ralph has raised roughly $400,000 in general election and runoff election money that he cannot use in the primary. So much for the decisive advantage in fundraising.
of course, we know that little things like laws aren’t a hinderance to Ralph and Jack, but as usual with Ralph, it’s all hype.
By Beth
April 12, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this
Why is it taking so long for Angela Moore’s report to load? It’s now Wednesday, and we still can’t see it.
By Leslie
April 12, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this
That’s a $100,000 personal investment into Darryl Hick’s committment to better Georgians voter process, increase economic development and decrease securities fraud.
Walter Ray gave himself a $50k loan. Other House and Senate candidates also provided loans to their campaigns.
I appreciate any candidate that is willing to personally invest into their own campaigns. A candidate should show their own personal investment, instead of spouting out rhetoric and making false promises to solicit donors.
By Greg
April 12, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this
A personal investment is all fine and dandy but guess what…everyone knows people do it b/c they can’t raise money. If you can’t raise money, then how will you earn people’s vote. If the DEM candidates cannot raise money, these minimal loans will not help at all in a statewide race. If you have the potential to drop serious money like $500K-$1MM +, then we are talking.
By NutsnBolts
April 12, 2006 04:33 PM | Link to this
Greg
You’re a jughead.
“Everyone knows…” I’m one that did not know your goofy conclusion.
Remember: Governor “GasGuy”? He beat a sitting governor who outspent “GasGuy” 6 to 1. your logic sucks
Wonder what your comment would have been about David vs. Goliath? We know how that rock ‘thing” turned out, too.
Money doesn’t make the man…. jughead.
By BlingBling
April 12, 2006 04:35 PM | Link to this
Greg is one of SHYMAN’s plants.
By Chief
April 12, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this
Greg, you’re enough fertilizer to cover Dixie like the Dew.
By Hotchick
April 12, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this
Money earns votes? Greg is one of Reedy’s new dirt democrats. Patel or lawyer.
By Goose
April 13, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
That’s absolutely true about Shyman’s plants. In fact, I think he just sits at a computer and types blog messages for himself because they all say the same doggone thing - which is nothing - and use the same phrases. He makes up all of his labels becuase he has little substance. Of course, I can see his response now: He has experience, a law degree, a masters, blah blah blah. Mommy and Daddy put him through school and now he wants to be a big shot (which Mommy and Daddy are paying for). The Dems are going to defeat themselves if they nominate him and some of these other candidates with no chance of winning in November. As they move farther to the left and away from most Georgians, the Republicans - who definitely have issues- will nonetheless win when it matters - in November.