Democrat Jason Carter knew the financial stakes would be high when he decided to stay in his state Senate seat even as he launched a bid for governor. And with a haul of $1.3 million in less than two months, he's sent a resounding signal to Gov. Nathan Deal's camp.
Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday that his disclosure will show he has about $1.2 million in cash on hand after expenses. Reporting a big number is crucial as Carter will be barred from raising campaign cash as long as the Legislature is in session, beginning Jan. 13.
Deal faces the same restraint, but he already had $1.1 million in campaign cash by June’s end and has been aggressively making the fundraising rounds over the past few months. His two GOP rivals, state Superintendent John Barge and Dalton Mayor David Pennington, also have yet to report their year-end financial take.
The race for the Governor’s Mansion likely won’t be as costly as the wild contest for an open Senate seat, but the tally could exceed $10 million.
In the 2010 contest, Deal raised more than $8 million, and other GOP contenders raised millions more. Former Gov. Roy Barnes, the unsuccessful Democratic nominee, amassed nearly $9 million for that race.
Carter said his campaign will release more detailed figures next week, but he said about 1,800 donors from across the political spectrum contributed and that the “vast majority” were from Georgia.
“I had high expectations, but they were vastly exceeded,” Carter said. “There’s a huge amount of energy out there that is starting to really show. It’s not just Democrats. It’s Democrats and Republicans. And it’s exciting.”
Deal’s camp said it expected an even bigger take from Carter, who leaned partly on his grandfather’s network of donors with events in Atlanta and Washington to boost his campaign.
“This would be a great haul for another Democrat in Georgia but doesn’t seem overwhelming for someone who prides himself on his national, name-brand family,” said Tom Willis, Deal’s campaign chairman.
Yet coupled with Democrat Michelle Nunn's fundraising take of $1.7 million in her first 10 weeks as a Senate candidate, it sends a message that Democratic voters are enthused at the prospect of making inroads in a state where Republicans control every statewide office and hold commanding majorities in the Legislature.
“We knew he would be competitive on the issues,” said DuBose Porter, the chairman of the state’s Democratic Party. “Now we know that Jason will have enough money to go toe to toe with Deal.”
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