RICHMOND
Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe has raised five times as much cash as either of his two rivals for the Democratic nomination, and little of his money is coming from Virginia voters, according to campaign finance reports released this week.
The $4.2 million-plus that McAuliffe collected during the three-month period ending March 31 exceeds the combined contributions received by Democrats Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran, and Republican Bob McDonnell, according to records posted on the Virginia Public Access Project Web site.
During the reporting period, Deeds took in about $729,000 and Moran raised about $807,000.
Boosted by $1.2 million from the Republican Governors Association, McDonnell received about $2.2 million during the period.
Eighteen percent of McAuliffe's contributions came from Virginians, according to his campaign. McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has called on his nationwide connection s to raise money.
McDonnell, a former state attorney general, raised nearly two-thirds of his money from outside Virginia.
The Deeds and Moran campaigns note that at least 90 percent of their donors are Virginians.
Despite his campaign cash, McAuliffe has not staked out a lead in the polls, a point emphasized by Moran spokesman Jesse Ferguson.
"Mr. McAuliffe does have more money, but we're ahead in the polls, and $4 out of every $5 donated to his campaign comes from someone who votes for governor someplace else," Ferguson said.
The McAuliffe campaign says it believes the candidate's nationwide connections will help ensure victory in November.
"To beat Bob McDonnell... and win back the House of Delegates, Democrats will need to have the financial resources to compete," McAuliffe campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said. "Terry is investing in building the biggest grassroots operation that Virginia has ever seen."
While campaigns like to boast about how much they've raised, the more important figure can be how much they've saved in the bank.
In that contest, McDonnell leads, ending March with nearly $3.5 million in cash. McAuliffe had about $2.4 million in his account; Deeds, about $1.2 million; and Moran, nearly $824,000.
A state law banning fundraising by certain elected officials during the General Assembly session prevented Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, and McDonnell, a former attorney general, from collecting contributions for part of the three-month cycle.
Moran, a former state delegate from Alexandria, resigned his seat last year in part so he wouldn't face that fundraising restriction.
The three Democrats will need to draw on their cash reserves as the June 9 primary election approaches, said University of Virginia political science professor Larry J. Sabato.
"That's where the money matters," Sabato said. "If you've got it to spend, that can make a big difference."
One advantage McDonnell has is that he can stockpile money for the fall campaign while the three Democrats spend in the primary.
Donors to the four men run the gamut of powerful people, politicians, lawyers, unions, real estate developers and several recognizable names.
Famed investor and pop culture personality Donald Trump gave $25,000 to McAuliffe, one of several high-profile donors to his coffers.
Both Deeds and Moran received money from violinist Boyd C. Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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Election will get nation-wide attention from both parties
Both parties have a stake in this election. The Repubs will claim a victory as a referendum against Obama, and the Dems will claim it as proof the people still want change.
The Democratic Governors Association, has already started the on-line attack, and Yoni Cohen, of Common Sense Virginia, is accusing McDonnell of being "for wealthy contributors" (like Dem backers all wear sackcloth) and "the radical rightwing" (a group recently identified as potential terrorists by our own DHS).
I want change; oh Lord, do I! So, I'm voting for McDonnell!
All registered voters can vote in the June 9th Democratic Primary. (Haven’t decided who I’m voting for in the Primary.) Deadline to register is May 11th.
Don’t sit back and think you don’t need to vote in the Primary and the Election because there are enough like minded people voting to get your guy in….there aren’t!
Get up, get out, get involved!
Fraud
Whatever fictitious names are listed by the punk McAuliffe as contributors, all that money is coming from George Soros, and/or from credit card theft. That's how the Fascocrat Party operates. We already have a dictator in the White House, now we're going to have one in Richmond.
Fund raising
You point out that 18% of McAuliffe's contributions come from Virginians, and that 2/3 of McDonnell's contributions come from out of state. It seems to me that the number people are more likely to remember is that 2/3 of McDonnell's contributions come from out of state. No one will actually do the math and realize that that means 33% of his contributions came from Virginians or almost double the amount from Virginians who contributed to McAuliffe's campaign. Pilot writer, your prejudice is showing.
Fund raising
You point out that 18% of McAuliffe's contributions come from Virginians, and that 2/3 of McDonnell's contributions come from out of state. It seems to me that the number people are more likely to remember is that 2/3 of McDonnell's contributions come from out of state. No one will actually do the math and realize that that means 33% of his contributions came from Virginians or almost double the amount from Virginians who contributed to McAuliffe's campaign. Pilot writer, your prejudice is showing.
What no Mcauliffe supporters
What no Mcauliffe supporters here?
Oh wait, I forgot the time difference, people in CA are just getting to work right now.
"absurd"?
Much of Bob McD's money comes from out of state. What number % is the dividing line between absurd and not absurd?
Vote Against Obama's Policies...
I don't care who gets elected governor as long as they are not an Obama brown noser like Tim Kaine. He is so in love with B. Hussein Obama that it is not funny.
McAuliffe's a joke
I was at the 61st Annual Shadplanking on Wed.(Which really kicks off the VA political season) The road leading to the event was flooded with McAuliffe signs... but when it came to the speeches, Bob McDonnell took the stage. He showed the Democrats for who they really are. When McAuliffe spoke, he tried to dish it back to McDonnell, but no one was listening anymore... and then it started to rain! Only fitting.. McAuliffe won the sign battle, but I don't think he can win the election.
No one is sure what McAuliffe does, and he's not even a native of Virginia. His commercials are terrible with his fake attempt at a Virginian accent. He wants to be Mark Warner so bad, but he doesn't have what it takes. He wants to run VA to give Obama more power. Virginia having a Republican governor will be a major blow to the administration. I think Tim Kaine has ruined the chances of a Dem winning- Kaine is an absolute moron! Hey McAuliffe, Go back to New York and leave Virginia alone!
Carpet Bagger
Last week I received a call from a Poll asking which of the three Dem candidates I was likely to vote for; I responded I wasn't likely to vote for any of them. He then responded that I should really consider Terry McAullife. I then asked him where he was calling from and he responded "California". After laughing, I hung up.
Folks, this man is nothing but a Clinton sycophant. He knows less about Virginia than I know about Arizona; I've never been there!
Carpet Bagger
Last week I received a call from a Poll asking which of the three Dem candidates I was likely to vote for; I responded I wasn't likely to vote for any of them. He then responded that I should really consider Terry McAullife. I then asked him where he was calling from and he responded "California". After laughing, I hung up.
Folks, this man is nothing but a Clinton sycophant. He knows less about Virginia than I know about Arizona; I've never been there!
WHAT ???
NO MORE LIBERALS !!! NO MORE LIBERALS !!!! NO MORE LIBERALS !!!!
Anyone
But McAuliffe.
Whether you vote democrat or
Whether you vote democrat or republican, DO NOT vote for someone whose campaign is financed by people whose interests are not in the state! It is absurd that 80% of Terry McCauliffe's money comes from out of the state.
Don't vote for a carpetbagger.
Scary!
"$4 out of every $5 donated to his campaign comes from someone who votes for governor someplace else,"
Just what we need........a Non-Virginian running our State. A Political pawn! Timmy did such a wonderful job. Obviously his 3rd part-time job is helping McAuliffe.
Great loss for Virginia
If Terry McAuliffe wins the state house it will be a great loss for Virginia. We don't need outsiders running our state, and that is just what he is, and who he aligns with. His money comes from outside the state, and those people/groups will try to wield power over the state, a state in which they do not live, or support. Come on Virginians do we really need that here? I think not, there are other candidates running who have been here, and understand Virginia better, lets get them elected.
Nationwide Connection code for Clintonites Unite
“The McAuliffe campaign says it believes the candidate's nationwide connections will help ensure victory in November.” This is the reason he won’t win. An out of Towner trying to advance the Bill and Hillary Clinton agenda down the east coast. Stay in New York were you are from Terry.