Last-Minute Money Pouring In
Big donations are rolling in to Oklahoma’s incumbent members of Congress as the election nears.
Apparently mindful of a toxic political environment for Republican candidates nationwide _ and lingering bitterness over the $700 billion financial “rescue” plan _ Oklahoma’s GOP lawmakers aren’t taking anything for granted, though most have challengers with very little dough.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, raised more than $133,000 in just two weeks, from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15, and still has last-minute contributions coming in daily. His Democratic opponent, Blake Cummings, raised only $1,561 in that period, and his Independent opponent, David Joyce, hasn’t raised enough ($5,000) to trigger reporting to the Federal Election Commission.
Cole’s latest report shows he got thousands of dollars from the execs. of companies that provide gaming equipment to Indian tribes.
Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, took in close to $90,000 in the first two weeks of October. Her Democratic opponent, Stephen Perry, hasn’t filed a report with the FEC since beginning his run for the House.
Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, raised $17,875 in the first part of October, most of it from Political Action Committees (PACs). His Democratic opponent, Frankie Robbins, raised $2,265, and his Independent opponent, Forrest Michael, raised $801.
Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, raised nearly $81,000 from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15. He is fighting Democrat Georgianna Oliver who has loaned her campaign more than $400,000.
Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, actually seemed to dial it back a bit after raising money at a frenetic pace for the past year. He took in only $34,650 in the first two weeks of the month, still leaving him with over $1 million in the bank, hundreds of thousands more than any of his Oklahoma colleagues in the House.
Boren’s Republican opponent, Raymond Wickson, hasn’t raised enough to report to the Federal Election Commission.
All of the incumbents reported spending money on advertising, meaning they’re not just counting on their name recognition to get them through a very volatile election season.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or follow this blog's RSS and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment