Schuette Posts 13-to-1 Cash Advantage Over Totten

According to campaign finance reports, Attorney General Bill Schuette has an incredible financial lead over his presumed Democratic opponent Mark Totten. Mr. Schuette posted $1.91 million cash on hand after raising $1.02 million and spending $504,457. Mr. Totten raised $87,672 this year leaving him with $150,610 cash on hand. Mr. Totten has spent $65,474 and he personally loaned his campaign $63,000.

Mr. Schuette has received a number of large donations from strong Republican sources such as $60,000 from the Red and Blue PAC, $21,500 from the Michigan Realtors PAC, while the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers PAC chipped in $16,000.

Lt. Governor Brian Calley has the upper hand against his tea party challenger, Wes Nakagiri, in his race to maintain the Republican nomination. Mr. Calley has outspent his opponent $214,361 to $21,299 and holds a cash-on-hand advantage of $77,644 to $18,246. Lisa Brown, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, filed a waiver stating that she would not raise or spend more than $1,000. Ms. Brown has come under fire from the Republican Party as she filed her statement of organization well past the deadline. She will be fined $300 for the late filing.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reportedly raised $105,556 this year and spent $380,245 leaving her with $251,835 cash on hand for her reelection bid. In the race the Democrats have just recently selected Godfrey Dillard to challenge Ms. Johnson. Mr. Dillard has not yet been required to file campaign finance reports.

The expected Republican nominees for the Supreme Court have posted big numbers so far with Justice Brian Zahra raising $503,569, spending $20,267, and having $483,302 cash-on-hand and Kent County Circuit Judge James Redford raising $194,275, spending $44,268, and having $150,007 cash on hand. Justice David Viviano reported $495,424 raised, $20,222 spent, and $475,202 cash-on-hand. The Democrats have not yet named a candidate to challenge Mr. Viviano. Richard Bernstein, one of the expected Democratic nominees, has raised $100,025, all but $25 of this has come from Mr. Bernstein himself. He has also spent $44,268 leaving him with $55,745. Wayne Circuit Judge Deborah Thomas, the other expected Democratic candidate, filed her statement of organization on August 4.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 15, 2014 10:30 AM
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