Money As Expected

From Pol Watchers:

The re-election campaign for Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher shows that the incumbent has collected a total of $2,980,216 in the election cycle, including $1,292,401 since Jan. 1, 2007. Meanwhile, Anne Northup, another Republican candidate for governor, and her running mate, Jeff Hoover, have raised more than $1.5 million for their campaign. That includes a $500,000 loan from Northup and her husband, Woody Northup.

Fletcher has spent $1.8 million this year and now enters the last month of the campaign with $935,819 in the bank, according to the report summary just filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. The Northup-Hoover campaign, in its 32-day pre-primary report, said it had about $980,200 on hand. "Jeff and I have been thrilled with the support we have received from people all over the Commonwealth," Northup said in a statement. "As the governor’s own campaign said last week, if you are an incumbent, it is easier to raise money, but we are thrilled with the response we have gotten despite the governor trying to prevent people from donating."

The report listed donations from more than 2,000 people in 67 counties. "Our efforts have been picking up steam each week and the momentum is building," Northup said, noting that the campaign reaped more than $110,000 contributions in the five days leading up to the close of the books.

Of the loan from the Northups, campaign manager Michael Clingaman said, "Their loan demonstrates how deeply they believe the Republican Party needs a new standard bearer who can put the failures of the Fletcher administration behind us."

Paducah businessman Billy Harper, the third Republican candidate for governor, has not yet filed his campaign finance report. Statewide candidates have until midnight Wednesday to file.

Obviously, Governor Fletcher and Congresswoman Northup raised money. They are politicians. Politicians talk (a lot) and consume donations. The monitary explanation? Fletcher has been bought. Northup was a Congresswoman. If elected, both will Kentuckians and serve special interests.