The Keller race -- campaign cash and a candidates forum
Feb 1, 2008The Keller race -- campaign cash and a candidates forum
Posted on Feb 1, 2008 7:40:29 AM
With the presidential primary out of the way, talk is turning back to the other races -- starting with Republican Ric Keller's 8th District Congressional race.
Today's paper carried a story about congressional fundraising in general. I'll do something more once all the reports are filed -- and we get past the press releases and can really look at where the money's coming from. But the short version for this race has Keller way ahead with$183,000 this past quarter and a total of $617,000 in cash on hand. And the only other candidate who submitted a six-digit quarter (so far) was Democrat Mike Smith who reported raising $120,000 during the quarter, with $271,000 cash on hand. Smith's release is below. Others when they come.
(As an aside, the story also noted that, in his race, Tom Feeney had $455,000 in the bank and that his Democratic challenger, Suzanne Kosmas, had raised about $360,000 -- which "Republicans discounted ... saying new candidates can tap the 'low-hanging fruit' of close friends and family for large initial donations." That, my friends, is part of why political-fundraising and campaign-spending is so out of hand ... when people manage to trivialize an amount of money that is larger than many theme-park workers make in a decade.)
On a happier note though... Some props for a group that already has a debate slated -- the League of Women Voters and the Lake Formosa Neighborhood Association, which have teamed up to hold a candidates form for "all qualified candidates from all parties as well as independents" at the Howard Middle School Auditorium (800 East Robinson Street, Orlando, FL 32801) on Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 pm. Good for the League and Lake Formosa. The more debates and forums, the better ... for all races.
Smith Campaign Raises Over $365,000 in 2007
Record-Breaking Fundraising and Grassroots Support Show Huge Momentum in Race for Congress
Winter Garden, FL - Mike Smith, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida's 8th District, today released his fundraising numbers for the period ending December 31, 2007. Over the course of the campaign, Smith has raised more than $365,000 - with over $120,000 of that raised between October 1 and December 31.
The campaign noted that a whopping 93% of its contributions come from within the state of Florida - a sign of strong grassroots support. That grassroots support is also evident in the early support already garnered by the campaign: the Sheet Metal Workers, National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, American Association for Justice, Electrical Workers, and the Carpenters have all pledged their support to Smith.
"The people of Central Florida deserve a representative in Washington who is fighting for their communities, their health care, and their families," said Smith. "The overwhelming support I have received thus far is further proof of what I hear each day on the campaign trail: Floridians are fed up with the Bush Administration's failed policies - and with Ric Keller's rubber-stamping of those policies.
"I believe my campaign is enjoying such strong early support because activists, voters, and organizations across this state who have looked at the records and plans of each of the candidates have concluded that I am the candidate who will go to Washington and fight for what is most important to all of us: an exit strategy for the war in Iraq, increased access to quality health care for all, and safer neighborhoods for Central Florida families," Smith continued.
Smith has a total of $271,379 cash on hand. His campaign finance report has been filed with the Federal Elections Commission and is available online.
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