Campaign Finance reports were due today.
And Kasich shallacked Strickland.
In contributions received, Kasich raised $2.08 million to Strickland’s $1.60 million.
Add in in-kind contributions and we have Kasich at $2.25 million to Strickland’s $1.7 million.
For once, Strickland didn’t have to rely on the Ohio Democratic Party to supplement his report. And it showed. But it is surprising that the Governor was only able to pull in $1.6M after enjoying fundraisers with a former President Clinton and Vice President Biden.
What was missing from Strickland’s report? “Significant chunks of money” from the DGA.
From the 9/22 Dispatch:
Although the Republican Governors’ Association has dominated the television airwaves this summer with its series of “Strickland doesn’t get the jobs done” ads, Daschle said DGA has “moved a significant chunk of money to the Ohio Democratic Party for their efforts (to support Strickland). I don’t think the Republicans have done the same thing.”
But the only cash contributed to Strickland from the ODP this cycle was about $96,000 in in-kind costs for things like postage, printing, and salaries.
Does that really qualify as a “significant chunk of money”, especially when you compare it to the amount of money the RGA continues to spend on Kasich? Sure, the DGA did put another ad into the rotation, but there are no indications that they are willing to invest nearly as much into a race that seems more and more hopeless for Strickland every day.
But ultimately, what this comes down to is what each candidate was able to raise going into the final month of the campaign.
Fundraising is a significant measure of momentum and confidence in victory. This fundraising report indicates Kasich has it. Strickland doesn’t.
