WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama once again collected more money from Georgians in April, but the gap with Republican challenger Mitt Romney is closing.
Obama’s re-election campaign reported about $283,000 raised from Georgia, while Romney brought in about $191,000, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of campaign finance disclosures. The disparity narrowed considerably from March, when Obama outraised Romney by a nearly six-to-one margin because of a presidential fundraising swing that included a stop at actor Tyler Perry's house.
Neither candidate appeared in Georgia to raise money in April. Romney’s haul increased more than 50 percent from March as the former Massachusetts governor solidified his hold on the Republican nomination. Obama saw his overall Georgia take tumble from March, though excluding what he brought in from three fundraising events during his March 16 visit, it was about the same.
Overall, Obama’s campaign raised $25.7 million for the month and had $115 million on hand entering May. Romney raised $11.7 million and had $9.2 million in the bank. Romney only recently began raising money in tandem with the Republican National Committee. The RNC is helping him close the gap with the incumbent, who has been raising large sums jointly with his party and did not have an expensive primary campaign.
In April, Romney brought in $5,000 -- the maximum legal contribution for the primary and general elections -- from Atlanta attorney Vincent Gresham; and Tim and Nancy Williams of Douglasville. Another 35 Georgia donors gave Romney $2,500 in April. The average Georgia donation for Romney was $493 for the month.
Mark and Jane Cohen of Atlanta each gave $5,000 to Obama in April. The president also got a maximum donation from Ardra Tippett, CEO of Cake Café Atlanta; William Lamar Jr. of Roswell; Robin Poole of Decatur; and Mary Moore of Atlanta. The average Obama donation from Georgia was $113.
Both Romney and Obama are planning to appear in the Atlanta area for fundraisers next month. The state is highly likely to send its 16 electoral votes to Romney, but it remains a popular money-raising destination.
On June 11 in Cobb County, Romney will be joined by former Georgia Rep. Newt Gingrich, who could use some financial assistance himself. At the end of April, days before he dropped out of the presidential race, the former U.S. House speaker was carrying nearly $4.8 million in debt. Forbes magazine used the total to name Gingrich “America’s Most Indebted Politician.”
Gingrich consistently struggled to raise money during the campaign and stayed in the race long after realistic hopes of winning had evaporated, racking up large bills to a private security firm, charter plane service, staff and others.
Among the creditors was Gingrich himself, who was owed $580,000 by the campaign for travel expenses.
By comparison, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who dropped out of the presidential race in April, ended his campaign with $2.2 million in debts.
In the unlimited fundraising realm of super PACs, Romney-affiliated Restore Our Future raised $4.6 million in April, with only $200 coming from Georgia. Obama-tied Priorities USA raised $1.6 million, none from Georgia.
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