McDonnell leads in gubernatorial campaign fundraising

RICHMOND

Attorney General Bob McDonnell begins this year's gubernatorial race with the most campaign cash among four contenders and the least immediate need to spend it.

McDonnell, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination, had a war chest of slightly more than $2 million at the end of 2008, according to a report he submitted Thursday to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

That's more than twice the reserves reported by each of the three Democrats running in that party's June 9 gubernatorial primary.

McDonnell raised slightly more than $1.6 million in the second half of last year and spent $589,000. Since the beginning of 2006, McDonnell has collected $4.1 million and spent almost $2.1 million.

State Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County had the biggest bank balance among Democrats, $804,000. Deeds has raised almost $1.4 million, including $611,000 in the second half of 2008.

Former state Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria had $770,000 on hand at the end of the year. He collected $755,000 during the second half of 2008 and spent $917,000.

All told, Moran took in took more than $2.1 million last year and spent almost $1.4 million.

Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, had a $718,000 treasury.

Despite entering the race in November, McAuliffe raised more money than either of his Democratic rivals in the second half of 2008, collecting $947,000. Of that sum, $600,000 came from 14 contributors who donated between $25,000 and $100,000 each.

In the lieutenant governor's race, incumbent Bill Bolling, a Republican, reported $721,000 in the bank. His GOP opponent, Patrick Muldoon of Giles County raised $10. Among Democrats, Jody Wagner of Virginia Beach reported a $285,000 balance and John Bowerbank of Russell County reported $181,000.

In the attorney general's race, Del. Steve Shannon, D-Fairfax County, had a $746,000 campaign balance. Among Republicans, state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli of Fairfax County had $221,000, John Brownlee of Roanoke had $117,000; and David Foster of Arlington had $54,000.

Pilot writer Julian Walker contributed to this story.

Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com