Terry McAuliffe, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, says he has raised an additional $4.2 million, pushing his total since last fall to $5.2 million.
The latest burst of bucks came in between Jan. 1 and March 31. McAuliffe is collecting cash but spending it, too. He has a balance of $2.5 million.
McAuliffe released his campaign-finance figures yesterday—ahead of his opponents—apparently hoping to demonstrate broad appeal as well as fundraising prowess. Campaign-finance reports are due April 15.
Former Del. Brian J. Moran, one of McAuliffe’s two rivals for the Democratic nomination, announced later yesterday that he raised more than $800,000 during the most recent reporting period.
Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, who also is seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 9 primary, did not release his fundraising figures yesterday.
Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Bob McDonnell, the presumptive Republican nominee, declined to say when the campaign would release its numbers but added that “Chairman McAuliffe sure knows how to spend a lot of money really quickly.“
As former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, McAuliffe has friends with deep pockets across the country. But he says the money he has raised has come from more than 3,400 donors. McAuliffe’s campaign said $760,000 of the $4.2 million originated from Virginia donors.
“We are thrilled with the grass-roots and fundraising support we have received over the last few months,“ said Mike Henry, McAuliffe campaign manager.
Moran’s camp noted that more than 90 percent of his dollars contributed and contributors this period are from within the state.
“Our goal is to have enough to fully communicate Brian’s background and message of fighting for Virginia—we are ahead of that pace,“ said Mame Reiley, campaign chairwoman.
“We expect to be outspent, but we also expect to win,“ Reiley said. “Virginia Democrats have long confirmed that money in and of itself does not sway them to a candidate. Instead, they want someone who is a proven fighter for their families and a leader who can win in November.“
The Virginia Public Access Project—an online watchdog of politics and money—reported this week that McAuliffe received about $475,000 from two labor unions. Most of the cash, $422,000, came from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the balance from firefighters.
At the same time, McDonnell collected $1 million from the Republican Governors Association.
Moran’s campaign reported having $824,000 on hand as of the end of March.
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