Kaine stays ahead of Allen in Senate dash for cash
Democrat Tim Kaine outperformed Republican George Allen in raising money for their U.S. Senate campaigns during the three-month period that ended in June, according to figures the candidates released this morning.
Kaine raked in about $3 million for the quarter, bringing his total fundraising haul to $10.4 million for the campaign. Kaine reached June 30 with a cash balance of $2.7 million, having already spent $3.5 million to reserve television advertising time for the fall. Kaine’s camp said more than 70 percent of its second-quarter contributions came from donors who gave less than $200.
Allen raised more than $2 million for the period and finished the quarter with more than $3.3 million in the bank, his campaign said. Allen spent much of the last fundraising period working to nail down the Republican nomination, which he won easily in a June 12 primary.
The fundraising totals for the two candidates don’t tell the whole story of how money will influence the closely-watched Senate race. Outside groups — including some that can legally avoid disclosing their donors — already are spending heavily to influence the race. The conservative group Crossroads GPS said Monday that it is putting $1.1 million behind a new television ad attacking Kaine.
Speaking of ads, Allen’s campaign this morning debuted the latest in its series of “Virginia Voices” spots painting positive portraits of the former governor and senator. This one features a testimonial from Kay Coles James, who served as Allen’s secretary of health and human resources and played a key role in implementing the administration’s welfare reform initiative.
Kaine spokeswoman Lily Adams said: “It’s not surprising that George Allen would be endorsed by his own political appointees. But Virginia voters need look no further than George Allen’s last Senate term, where he opposed major bipartisan initiatives and compromise, to know what kind of senator George Allen would be if he wins reelection. Tim Kaine, on the other hand, has a career long record of bringing Virginians together for real progress.”
– Michael Sluss
July 11, 2012 - 11:40 AM
This is pointless, since the GOP dominated PAC funding will easily double if not triple any amount the Dem groups accumulate. Just as I correctly predicted with the 9th district funding, the Va Senatorial funding will end up having the GOP candidate, no matter how pathetic he is, like George Allen, more than double the funding of the Dem candidate, Tim Kaine.
Discussion of funding is just blather unless it includes PAC money. You barely mention that in your post, but your headline certainly ignores the reality of it.