UPDATED: Pat McCrory's campaign war chest is stacked $2.3 million deep with a month to go in the governor's race, thanks to a $3.1 million haul in the third quarter this year.
McCrory's campaign released the third quarter fundraising numbers Tuesday, trumpeting last week's $1 million in donations as its most successful week ever.
The cash infusion puts McCrory's grand total this election cycle close to $10 million, far more than his Democratic rival Walter Dalton, and puts him in the driver's seat going into the Nov. 6 election.
Dalton's campaign said it would not release fundraising numbers for the third quarter. Neither campaign will submit formal campaign finance reports until Oct. 29 because the reporting period does not end until Oct. 20. But both camps put increased pressure on donors to contribute by Friday, the last day of the fiscal quarter.
Dalton ended June with just $714,000 in the bank, handicapped by a late campaign start after Gov. Bev Perdue's last-minute decision not to seek re-election. The Democrat's campaign has kept quiet about it's fundraising, heightening concerns among political observers about his campaign's financial weakness.
McCrory ended June with $4.4 million on hand and proceeded to put a huge chunk of the money into a TV advertising campaign that started in August, a month before his rival. The ad campaign is draining his bank account but also keeping him in the lead with most polls showing him ahead by double-digits.
In addition to the $2.3 million cash-on-hand, McCrory is also getting financial help from the Republican Governors Association, as is Dalton from the Democratic equivalent, though to a lesser extent so far.
"North Carolinians are rejecting the failed economic policies and shameful campaign tactics of the Perdue-Dalton era and are looking for a new leader who can bring people together to fix North Carolina's broken economy and broken government," said McCrory spokesman Ricky Diaz.
Comments
cooldela fundraising
October 4, 2012 - 8:13am — payattentionHow big of a chunk do you think that McCrory is getting from special interest groups? And who are those special interest groups? What's their agenda?
McCrory fundraising
October 4, 2012 - 5:46am — cooldelaI think McCrory's success in fundraising is further evidence that the people of North Carolina are tired of the administrations of Easley and Perdue and want a change. Hopefully McCrory's fundraising means that the heir apparent will not succeed Easley and Perdue. It is time for a change from what has not worked!
Mountainman
October 3, 2012 - 5:59pm — payattentionIt wasn't a jab. Gas, oil and coal are sinking millions into these elections. I think that you know who is getting the bulk of that money and why. Have a good evening.
if McCrory wants to restore confidence in state government...
October 3, 2012 - 5:37pm — Jackson_TybeeHe can start by revealing his client list and tax returns so we know he doesn't have any conflicts of interest when it comes to state business. That's pretty basic. I will have no confidence in him until he does.
I suppose it won't hurt to reveal it now:
October 3, 2012 - 5:28pm — Jackson_TybeeThe code was.... "Manchurian Rising"
I stand corrected
October 3, 2012 - 5:24pm — mountainmanOk you were correct. You also know very well I was referring to our country's freedom to vote. Not money or costs of elections. But you saw a opportunity to take a jab, and you took it. Hope it made you feel good. Have a nice evening.
I Know My Name
October 3, 2012 - 5:11pm — payattentionMountainman: Here's a quote from you, "If you really believe in free elections, you would respect the choice voters will make in November."
reply for Ty
October 3, 2012 - 3:41pm — mountainmanI was just changing into my tin foil hat and reading a good conspiracy theory book. Thinking of a reply to your sarcastic post, when I realized that after November 6th you will be referring to Pat McCrory as the new Governor. I'm still smiling.....thanks Ty...hope you have a nice day.
learn from your name
October 3, 2012 - 3:29pm — mountainmanPayattention???? I said " Free minded voters" not free elections.
North Carolina needs Pat McCrory
October 3, 2012 - 11:22am — inandohWe must do something to restore confidence in state government. The Easley & Perdue administrations have left NC voters with little confidence in state government. Hopefully Pat McCrory will help North Carolinians feel good about their state. We need someone from outside to clean state government up!
Free Elections
October 3, 2012 - 9:52am — payattentionMountainman: What do you mean "free elections"? The amount of money that oil, gas and coal are putting in is making these elections pretty darned expensive.
Secret Agents?
October 3, 2012 - 10:50am — payattentionYes, Jackson. I knew that the left wing liberals had planted "sleepers" amongst the N&O readers. What was your code word to come awake and attack McCrory?
Busted!
October 3, 2012 - 7:19am — Jackson_TybeeGosh mountainman, what can I say: you got me. Yes, the anti-McCrory forces cleverly hired me three years ago -- two years before McCrory even declared for Governor -- and instructed me to comment here for years as an undercover operative, weighing in on dozens of topics unrelated to politics just to lull people into thinking I'm an Ordinary Joe. Why? Because SO MANY people change their minds after reading comments on a blog. It happens all the time!
Not.
Sorry if I express my feelings more articulately then you and your friends would like. But, you know, when you're on the left you have an obligation to uphold the standards of the Intellectual Elite.
proof of the damage
October 3, 2012 - 7:09am — payattentionTo concerned 53: What proof do you have that the Dems have damaged NC?
McCrory Good For NC?
October 3, 2012 - 7:02am — payattentionOf course Pat McCrory would be good for NC. With all of the money that gas and oil is putting into his campaign, he could go to them for advice on what is good for NC. He wouldn't have to make any decisions on how to run the state. Let's face it, if gas and oil can further their agenda (make billions of dollars) by just putting a few million into a cheesy governor campaign, who are we to question it? Think about how wonderful it would be to have fracking all over the state. We would no longer have to concern ourselves with clean water resources. Hey! Aren't you willing to give up water so that gas and oil can make their profits? I think it's a worthy cause.
McCrory could also further legislation to stop the oceans rising. Who needs scientists to figure things out when all you have to do to stop global warming is to pass a law against it?
Pat McCrory is Buying the Election
October 3, 2012 - 6:40am — MalleusMaleficarumIs this democracy corporate style? Or, what? When he was mayor of Charlotte, Pat McCrory took money from the big utility companies. Now, McCrory works for a law firm but he isn't a lawyer - he's a bagman ferrying money back and forth between corporations and Republican legislators. Now, to make it easier for McCrory and his Republican buddies to empty the public purse into the maws of corporations and fatcats, they have decided to buy him the Governor's Mansion. Some state we live in - one where the Governor's Mansion is for sale to the highest bidder. Sounds like a banana republic, tastes like banana republic, smells like banana republic, looks like banana republic - Is Banana Republican Party - and you can bet your bottom dollar on that!
move
October 2, 2012 - 7:06pm — mountainmanYour not stuck with him??? You can always relocate to another state that is controlled by the party or person of your choice. If you really believe in free elections, you would respect the choice voters will make in November. I didn't like perdue/easley/hunt, but I did respect the process of free minded people voting as they wished. But you on the other hand are more than willing to call people who disagree with you "stupid"?? Are you really so superior to the rest of the population, that you know whats best 100% of the time??? I think NOT....I think your a paid blogger, who wishes to push and bully people with your superior knowledge..."thats a JOKE" into voting the way your handlers wish. In short.....we the people want be bullied anymore!!! On November 6th the people will speak with a loud and clear voice.
Dems dug a big ditch for NC
October 2, 2012 - 5:49pm — concerned53Jackson, you've got it all backwards as NC has been at the mercy of the corrupt practices of Perdue/dalton/Easley and the unions for the past decade. How many regret voting for Bev 4 years ago as this state is certainly no better off as there has been no leadership at the top of our state. Dalton would just be more of the same....
We have proof of the damage that the dems have done to this state. I am all ears if you have other than words about McCrory. I'm waiting....
Not surprising
October 2, 2012 - 3:17pm — Jackson_TybeePat McCrory is doing what he always does: sellingaccess to government. He's delivered in the past and he'll deliver to his donors again. I bet every businessman in the state is lined up to throw money at him.
Who is going to lose in all this? The people of NC.
But, hey -- if they are stupid enough to vote for a man they know is ready, willing and able to sell access to our state government and auction off our policies, then they deserve what they are going to get. Too bad I'm stuck with him, too.
Dalton in trouble
October 2, 2012 - 2:21pm — concerned53Silence regarding fund raising is bad news for a candidate. Word has it that Dalton is having major trouble raising money, due in part to the 10 points that he is down in even the PPP poll.
Perhaps there is also something keeping McCrory in the lead other than the money he is raising (or perhaps these are the reasons that he is raising $10 million), including the crap that Dalton/Perdue/Easley got this state into as well as that Pat may in fact be a pretty good candidate.