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DEL.ICIO.USState GOP has $1.4 mill on hand to begin general election season; 2010 gubernatorial hopefuls spread the cash around
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The state GOP has $1.4 million in cash to begin the general election season next week.
My AJC colleague James Salzer says the Georgia Republican party reports collecting $766,000 since March 31. Much of the money has come from elected officials and their political action committees.
Among the big contributors: The state Senate PAC ($60,000); Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens, who is considered a possible gubernatorial hopeful in 2010 ($10,000); state House Health and Human Services Chairwoman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) ($20,000); and House Higher Education Chairman Bill Hembree (R-Winston) ($10,000).
Updated: Late Tuesday, the state Democratic party reported raising $307,000 over the past three months, and ended June with $485,000 on hand.
Among other financial notations:
— Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, a candidate for governor in 2010, put out the word this week that he’s donating $26,750 to the state legislative campaigns of Republican incumbents and hopefuls with opposition this fall, Salzer reports.
However, another likely GOP gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, is writing checks too. He’s given $2,300 each to state senators with primary opposition, Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) and Dan Moody (R-Dunwoody).
He also wrote a $1,000 check to Steve Gooch, a friend who is running against one of House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s committee chairmen, Amos Amerson.
Oxendine and Cagle can afford the largesse. Under state law, they can’t spend the money they’ve raised for their current offices on their race for governor. At the end of 2007, Oxendine had $925,000 left in his insurance commissioner’s campaign account, and Cagle had $501,000 in his lieutenant governor’s warchest.
— Also, Jon Flack at Tondee’s Tavern is honing in on the top lines of financial reports filed by Georgia congressional candidates.
Most interesting is that U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall has $1.3 million, while Republican challenger Rick Goddard boasts $459,000. And in the 10th District primary, Republican incumbent Paul Broun of Athens is still at a financial disadvantage to challenger Barry Fleming of Harlem.
Brown has $202,000 to Fleming’s $344,000.
Comments
By Ga Values
July 8, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Goddard has been Robo Calling me for a month.. Terrable lies when I complain, they play dumb..how can anyone want a 3rd rate job in Washington that badly? It’s going to be a slimy election in Georgia, just wait until Saxby hits the airways.
By Mrs. RepubLady
July 8, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
I am writing checks, too! But only to the GOP faithful I know will look out for MY interests! I’m so tired of my hard earned interest money being bled to those pointless projects like schools, roads, and hospitals and such. And those war veterans don’t need any either, so stop calling me! Saxby was right to veto that GI bill. They knew what they were getting into when they volunteered, so they can keep their mitts of my capital gains! You bet I’m writing checks to Saxby Chambliss! Those sleazy little “Ad men” as they call themselves keep charging more and more to morph the faces of the un-American candidates. Channel Five should give Saxby the air time for free! Rupert Murdoch, a great American, knows how important it is to keep the money with the money, and so do I.
By Sha NayNAy
July 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
President Obama will take all the money from rich whitey. It is time to change who holds they green in this mofo. It time for white folk to give their cash to the people who truly deserve it. Yes I am talking about the black brothas and sistas who need that cold hard cash. White folk better whatchout. A black wave is gonna put yall in the po house and then jail!!!!!! Obama 2008.
By Ga Values
July 9, 2008 7:11 AM | Link to this
Sha NayNAy ,,,,,,,,,the Rhino/neocon have already stole from Whitey, look at our national debt pre & post Bush. Our money is becoming worthless.