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Fundraising Advantage for Blackwell in GOP Primary

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Ohio's Republican gubernatorial candidate, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, has collected nearly four times as much money since February as his opponent, Attorney General Jim Petro. With $1.09 million raised since February, Blackwell's total reaches $7.9 million for the gubernatorial campaign, while Petro's totals $283,000. Blackwell has $345,000 in reserves, while Petro has $258,000. Notably, Petro has accepted $95,000 from the Ohio Republican Party's state candidate fund, with lawyers who collect millions in fees from the attorney general's office contributing $160,000 to the fund.

Blackwell's campaign chose not to use the Ohio GOP state candidate fund, instead soliciting donations directly from contributors. Jess Goode, a spokesman for Democratic front-runner U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, called the Ohio GOP contributions "troublesome." With Strickland collecting about $1.12 million since February and having nearly the same amount in reserve, he is likely to have a $1 million advantage over the GOP nominee.

Key Takeaways:

  • Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell collected nearly four times as much money since February as Attorney General Jim Petro, his primary opponent in the GOP gubernatorial campaign.
  • Blackwell's campaign raised $1.09 million since February, while Petro's campaign collected $283,000, with a total of $7.9 million in the gubernatorial campaign.
  • Blackwell has $345,000 in reserves, while Petro has $258,000 on hand.
  • Attorney General Jim Petro accepted $95,000 from the Ohio Republican Party's state candidate fund, with lawyers who collect millions in fees from the attorney general's office contributing $160,000 to the fund.
  • Blackwell's campaign chose not to use the Ohio GOP state candidate fund, instead soliciting donations directly.
  • U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic front-runner, is likely to have a $1 million advantage over the GOP nominee, with Strickland collecting about $1.12 million since February and having nearly the same amount in reserve.
  • Franklin County Treasurer Richard Cordray, running unopposed in the Democratic primary, has $1 million in reserve for the treasurer's race.
  • State Treasurer Jennette Bradley collected $198,000 and has $400,000 on hand in the Republican side of the treasurer's race.

Statistics:

  • $1.09 million - amount raised by Blackwell since February
  • $283,000 - amount raised by Petro since February
  • $7.9 million - total amount raised for the gubernatorial campaign
  • $345,000 - Blackwell's reserves
  • $258,000 - Petro's reserves
  • $95,000 - amount accepted by Petro from the Ohio Republican Party's state candidate fund
  • $160,000 - amount contributed by lawyers to the Ohio GOP's candidate fund
  • $1.12 million - amount collected by Strickland since February
  • $1 million - Strickland's potential advantage over the GOP nominee
  • $1 million - Cordray's reserve for the treasurer's race
  • $198,000 - amount collected by Bradley in the Republican side of the treasurer's race
  • $400,000 - Bradley's reserves in the treasurer's race

Sources:

  • James Drew, "Fund-raising edge," The Blade, April 21, 2006, available at: [No available online link]
  • James Drew, "Fund-raising edge," The Blade, April 21, 2006, Copyright (c) 2006, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

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