Wow!Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe's campaign announced that he raised over $4.2 million in the three month period from January 1 to March 31 and has nearly $2.5 million cash on hand. After rolling out the first three chapters of his comprehensive Business Plan for Virginia and building a statewide grassroots operation, McAuliffe's broad financial support highlights why he is the candidate best positioned to run against Republican Bob McDonnell in November.I think that Terry McAuliffe just took this campaign to a new level. No wonder why Republicans are most afraid of him! :)
"We are thrilled with the grassroots and fundraising support we have received over the last few months," McAuliffe campaign manager Mike Henry said. "Virginians are looking for a governor who will continue the Warner-Kaine tradition of leadership and bring both business and executive experience to Richmond. Terry's decades of experience creating jobs and turning around struggling businesses, as well as his detailed plans to get Virginia's economy back on track, have resonated with Virginia voters."
After raising nearly $1 million from Virginia donors in 6 weeks during the previous fundraising period, McAuliffe has now raised a total of approximately $5.2 million from over 3,440 contributors.
P.S. For comparison's sake, Tim Kaine raised an impressive $2.6 million in 1Q05. As impressive as that was, it's actually $1.6 million less than Terry McAuliffe raised in 1Q09. And remember, back in 2005 the economy was booming, while today we're in the severe Republican Recession. That just makes McAuliffe's fundraising totals even more eye popping. All I can say is, Bob McDonnell's got to be praying right now that Terry McAuliffe is not the Democratic nominee this year. Ha.
P.P.S. Also for comparison's sake, Brian Moran raised $755,000 in the last six months of 2008, with an ending balance of $769,605. Obviously, Moran will have to raise a LOT more than that in the first quarter of 2009 to keep up with the McAuliffe juggernaut (not to mention having any chance of competing with Bob McDonnell in the general election). This should be interesting.
UPDATE: Josh Chernila weighs in over at his new blog, The Daily Dogwood, "I endorsed the McAuliffe campaign because, in addition to bold positions on jobs, energy and the environment, this campaign is firing on all pistons and avoiding the vicious negativity of the Moran campaign."
UPDATE #2: Hotline On Call reports that Brian Moran raised $800,000 in the quarter, a bit more than he raised in the last quarter of 2008 but only one fifth the amount Terry McAuliffe raised in 1Q09. Moran's cash on hand is $850,000 (or $825,000), one third of McAuliffe's.
