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Home / MT AG Update: Campaign Finance Reports ReleasedMT AG Update: Campaign Finance Reports Released
Last Updated on Tuesday, 8 January 2008 11:10 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 8 January 2008 09:17
The latest campaign finance reports are out this morning in the race to replace outgoing Democrat A.G. Mike McGrath.
In the Democratic primary, Helena lawyer Steve Bullock has raked in $107,315 and had $79,395 on Dec. 31. Former Sen. Mike Wheat, of Bozeman, has raised $85,938, including $50,000 of his own money. He had $76,155 on Dec. 31. House Minority Leader John Parker, a deputy county attorney from Great Falls, has garnered $50,808 and had $39,380 at year’s end.
On the Republican ticket, Helena attorney Tim Fox has raised $35,515 and had $23,396 on Dec. 31. Lee Bruner of Butte has raised $22,081, including a personal loan of $12,651 and a $2,000 donation. He had $1,912 on Dec. 31. Bruner reported unpaid debts of $2,359.
Ihe most recent reports, Republican Tim Fox outpaced his four opponents in fourth-quarter 2007 fundraising for attorney general candidates. Fox netted $20,065 through the end of the year from individual donor contributions, compared with $5,070 by Republican Lee Bruner. Trial lawyer Mike Wheat had the most among the three Democrats, at $15,985, followed by Steve Bullock at $10,242, and John Parker at $4,015.
We are seeing the momentum swing towards a viable Republican AG candidate, and Tim Fox is that guy. Lee Bruner has not demonstrated the ability to raise funds from donors at a rate that will keep him competitive, and he is also making poor spending decisions.
Tim Fox, on the other hand, has a lot of cash on hand and has momentum in his favor. He has led fund-raising among all AG candidates for two quarters in a row. He will be well-positioned to win the primary decisively and start the general election with a sizable war chest.
On the other hand, the Democrat primary is likely to be a blood bath. The race will be very competitive, with different factions (trial lawyers, environmentalists, unions) of the Democrat party already positioned behind different candidates. This means a competitive primary in which the Dems will spend all the money they have, they will beat up on each other.
Strong support for Fox now will mean a Republican edge coming out of the primary.