Update: Ellyn Bogdanoff Extends Lead In Fund Raising
In perhaps the hottest state senate race in Florida, state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff had her biggest fund-raising quarter of this campaign — $106,196.
Ellyn Bogdanoff
Her major opponent state Sen. Maria Sachs raised $88,940.
During reapportionment, Republican Bogdanoff and Democrat Sachs were forced to run in the same Broward and Palm Beach County seat — District 34.
Bogdanoff now has a big lead in fund raising over Sachs. She has raised $366,767 compared to $173,915.
Bogdanoff also has over $300,000 in the bank, according to the report. Sachs has roughly $150,000 saved, her last report states.
The pundits thought this was going to be a big money race. The figures are way less than predicted, but this is largely a general election contest (Bogdanoff has a primary opponent) so there is a lot of time left.
Committees supporting either of the two candidates are expected to pour money into the race at the last minute, too.
(A personal disclosure: My son is Bogdanoff's aide in Tallahassee.)
6 Responses to "Update: Ellyn Bogdanoff Extends Lead In Fund Raising"
actually says:
Actually, Maria Sachs does not really live in district 34.
Not to worry she'll have another term.
That's not a heck of a lot of money for a district that covers TWO expensive media markets (PB and FTL/MIA). I assume neither is going to do much TV with that kind of $$$.
FROM BUDDY: I agree.
I will explain says:
There will be TONS of television in this race but it will be party funded. It will be in the millions of dollars as well. The Republican party has a heck of alot more at the moment.
Yeah, "I will explain", that makes sense. In fact, that's exactly what has been happening at state and national levels for the 2 campaigning years since Citizen's United…. somebody else pays for most of the TV.
Actually, long before Citizens United, although it picked up since that ruling. Remember "Swift Boat"?
Yeah, Buddy. But back in 2004, the Swift Boat ads were in a legal gray area between the old FECA laws from 1974 and the McCain/Feingold 2002 laws that no longer exists.
Anyway, I think that looking at how much $$$ a campaign (especially a high profile, high-importance campaign) raises is becoming more and more irrelevant, and the campaign finance laws don't even mean anything anymore.
For example, in my FIU Introduction to American Government class, which I have been teaching for 19 years, I have always had an entire 50 minute lecture on campaign finance laws. I have since dropped that lecture as irrelevant. I mean, who in the hell cares that a congressional candidate can only accept $2,500 per election from an individual, when that individual can spend an unlimited amount himself or herself? Well, I DO mention that part in the elections lectures, and the students are thankful that they no longer have to memorize dollar contribution limits that no longer make sense.