The Money Race: Which Candidate for Governor Is Winning?
Friday, July 02, 2010
Candidates for governor Frank Caprio and Lincoln Chafee may be in neck in neck in the polls, but Caprio is pulling ahead of Chafee in the race to raise the most money.
Caprio has raised $320,000 in the second quarter of 2010 compared to $145,688 for Chafee. “It is like football training is in July,” said Chafee campaign manager J.R. Pagliarini. “When the regular season starts you’re ready to go in September.”
The former U.S. Senator will not face a primary battle, unlike Caprio, who is running against Democrat Patrick Lynch. Chafee had $418,591.88 in cash, according to Pagliarini. The Caprio campaign said it had broken its own record and had $1.7 million in cash—claiming it had more than any other gubernatorial candidate.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Frank has been able to realize this success in fundraising because he has spent time listening to Rhode Islanders and has formed a plan that addresses their concerns – especially the problems of reducing unemployment,” said Caprio spokesman Nick Hemond.
Neither candidate loaned money to their campaigns and neither one is currently planning on taking public matching funds, according to their spokesmen.
Pagliarini downplayed the role money would have in the race. “Elections are not decided on how much money you have, but rather how many votes you have,” he said. “That contest has not yet taken place.”
Lynch Will Take Matching Funds
Coming in third was Lynch, who raised $120,000 in the second quarter. Campaign manager Joel Coon noted that Lynch had raised $226,000 in the first quarter—more than Caprio’s $110,000. “There is parity in fundraising, especially after Patrick Lynch out-raised Caprio in both the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of this year,” Coon said.
“The campaign has raised exactly what it needs to meet its planned budget to win the primary since Patrick Lynch intends to take full advantage of state matching funds,” Coon added. “Unlike Frank Caprio and Lincoln Chafee, Patrick Lynch’s only source of income is his salary as Attorney General. He does not have the luxury of trying to buy this election like his opponents are.”
Moffitt, Block Loan Funds to Campaigns
Of the remaining three major candidates, only one other released quarterly financial information. Republican Victor Moffitt estimated that he had taken in $50,000, including a $30,000 loan. He said he had $30,000 in expenses and $20,000 cash on hand. Moffitt said he could loan himself another $75,000 if necessary.
Moderate Party candidate Ken Block did not release quarterly financial information, but his campaign told GoLocalProv that he has contributed another $100,000 to his campaign, bringing his total contribution to $350,000.
“The support for our campaign continues to grow, and we are confident that we will have the resources to compete,” said Amanda Alvarez, a campaign spokeswoman.
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille did not respond to a request for his second-quarter fundraising results. By state law, candidates have until the last day of the month after the close of the quarter to file their reports. Since that date falls on a Saturday, the reports will instead be due Aug. 2, according to Ric Thornton, director of campaign finance for the state Board of Elections.
To view campaign finance reports from the first quarter and earlier, click here.
Related Articles
- Rasmussen: Chafee and Caprio in a dead-heat
- Deadline Looms for Candidates in 2010: What to Look For
- RI Campaign 2010 – Today is Deadline for Candidates
