The Tolbert Report

Today is the day that financial disclosure reports are due for candidates both on the federal and state level. It will be interesting to see not only what numbers are posted but how the various campaigns release the information and spin their meaning.

The ones who are expected to do the best have already released their numbers. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Gilbert Baker has raised over a half a million and Republican candidate Tim Griffin for Congress has raised over $130,000. How close will the other candidates come? Who will be in second? We will soon find out and I will up date this thread as the numbers trickle in.

Any candidates want to send me their information rather than have me stake out the FEC website, please send it to Jason@TolbertReport.com.

UPDATE (As reports trickle in.)

U.S. Senate Candidates

 The Conrad Reynolds for U.S. Senate Campaign is the first to send me their details today. Reynolds took in $13,265.38 with a personal loan of $30,000, spent $104 for $43,161 left as cash on hand. They also passed along that they raised $3,473 last week through their online efforts and have their first official fundraising event in Fort Smith tomorrow hosted by Baldor CEO John McFarland.

Tom Cox tells the AP that he raised $32,712 however he has spent $34,637 with $5,332 cash on hand and $13,176 in debts, which includes a $7,250 personal loan. Some Republicans this week were murmuring that Cox may be considering dropping out and run for a different office, however, Cox assured me in a telephone interview on Tuesday that there is “Zero chance that I am running for anything other than Senate.”

Curtis Coleman’s Campaign sends along a copy of their report showing they have raised $54,085 for the quarter and $68,515 overall, which is likely to position them in second place behind Baker’s half a million. Coleman spent $27,270 for the quarter leaving cash on hand of $31,437 but with debts totaling $36,405.

State Sen. Gilbert Baker sends in his playstation like high score of $510,400 raised in one month, leaving his competition in the dust, roughly 10 times the amount of currently second placed Coleman.  Baker spent $6,715 during that time leaving him with a war chest of $503,685 and no debt.
 
Fred Ramey lets me know that for the previous quarter, he has received contributions totaling $5,390, has spent $6,246. He currently has $4,127 cash on hand but also has outstanding debts totaling $8,500.   Ramey tells me that he has not yet began focusing on fundraising but has instead been building a network of support.  “We continue to be encouraged by Arkansans from all walks of life,” said Ramey. ” There is a demographic of conservative blue-collar voters out there who have felt ignored and left out of the political process by more ‘polished,’ professional politicians – it is among these fellow conservatives that we are discovering our greatest support.  It’s a long way until May.”

Also this evening, Andrew DeMillo addresses the elephant in the room in an article entitled  “Arkansas GOP Senate hopefuls struggle with fundraising.”  I would say DeMillo has got it right.  With the except of Baker, the remaining Republican candidates will need to step up their fundraising in the next quarter or they will not be able to compete in the primary, let alone the general election.

Congressional Candidates

Tim Griffin for Congress Campaign firms up his numbers from his report showing that he raised $130,305 during the final ten days of the 3rd quarter and has a balance of $128,701.42 cash on hand. “Thank you to all who have given to our campaign. I appreciate the support I have received and will continue to build a grassroots, neighbor to neighbor organization,” Griffin said in his release.

Scott Wallace who plans to challenge Griffin as well as David Meeks in the Republican primary tells the Tolbert Report that he will not be filing for the previous quarter. “Although I did not have to file a report because I did not begin fundraising until after October 1,” said Wallace. ”I will have enough resources to run a vigorous campaign for the Republican nomination and to defeat Vic Snyder in November of 2010.”

In the First District, Republican challenger Rick Crawford lets me know that he raised $24,275 during the third quarter, spent $12,018, and has $38,337 cash on hand with no debt. “We are continuing to see support for our campaign as we work in getting our message out of smaller government, reigning in federal spending, and getting our country back on track,” said Crawford. “I believe that as we progress and are able to visit with voters across the First District, our campaign will continue to grow and that the people of the First District will let their voices be heard.”

By comparison Democrat incumbent Rep. Marion Berry raised $357,230 during the quarter with a sizable chuck – $286,660 – coming from PACs. Berry’s campaign spent $231,593 and had $590,270 cash on hand.

Tags: 2010 Candidates