Rawlings-Blake boasts fundraising lead
Sun colleague Justin Fenton reports:
With less than a month left before the Democratic primary, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has opened a commanding fundraising lead over her challengers, according to figures released by the campaigns in advance of the final reporting deadline Tuesday.
Rawlings-Blake had raised $800,000 since mid-January and $1.4 million overall this year, her campaign said, more than all her opponents combined. She has $676,000 in cash on hand — enough, her campaign said, to fund an aggressive television campaign in the race’s final weeks.
Her lead poses a challenge to her the rest of the field, which was already battling the perception that she has the race all but locked down.
Rawlings-Blake, who became mayor early last year following the resignation or Sheila Dixon, has also secured the endorsements of much of the city and state’s power establishment. But her campaign touted the breadth of her support.
“We’re really proud of the fact that we have had more than 1,000 individuals donors since the beginning of the year,” spokeswoman Keiana Page said. “I think it just goes to show that people aren’t necessarily in agreeance with some of the radical plans put out by our opponents.”
Her challengers have tried to use Rawlings-Blake’s fundraising prowess against her, saying it shows she is beholden to special interests and the political establishment.
State Sen. Catherine Pugh said she had raised $345,000 since she announced her candidacy for mayor in June. She had $250,000 in January. A campaign spokesman said he did not know how much cash she had on hand.
Former city planning director Otis Rolley reported raising about $267,000 since mid-January and $400,000 overall. He had less than $95,000 in cash.
Former City Councilman Joseph T. Landers raised $140,000 after he announced his candidacy in April, much of it in loans from himself and his campaign manager, according to a report filed with state board of elections. He had about $101,700 on hand.
With four candidates raking in at least $100,000, the combined take exceeded proceeds at the same point in the last mayoral race, when Dixon and Keiffer Mitchell were the only ones to hit six figures.
Rawlings-Blake has collected more than the $1.2 million that Dixon had raised at this point. Dixon went on to beat Mitchell in the 2007 Democratic primary by nearly 40 percentage points.
Donald F. Norris, chairman of the Department of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said Rawlings-Blake’s challengers are carving up anti-incumbent contributions — and, ultimately, votes.
Johns Hopkins political scientist Lester Spence, said the challengers will have to “aggressively figure out other means to get the vote. That’s the power of incumbency.”
Rawlings-Blake’s campaign declined to release detailed information about contributions and expenditures, which were not due to the elections board until midnight. In a summary report, the campaign said she had raised $800,000, spent $971,000, and had $676,000 cash on hand. About $40,000 came from other politicians or political action committees.
Rolley’s campaign said his contributions came from more than 900 donors, nearly as many as Rawlings-Blake. They touted the $400,000 he had raised as an “unprecedented amount for a mayoral challenger who has never held political office.”
“Unlike my opponents, I don’t have contracts to give away, I don’t have powerful political patrons in Annapolis, and I don’t have a rich family legacy,” the candidate said in a news release. “All I have is my ideas, my record of accomplishment, my work ethic, and my integrity.”
And Bill Cosby, who Rolley said would return to the city next month to campaign for him.
Rolley received $1,000 from the campaign fund of Dixon, who is barred from running for office under terms of her plea agreement last year on corruption charges, but has been giving behind-the-scenes advice to several of Rawlings-Blake’s challengers. UPDATE: Rolley campaign manager Dan Fee says the candidate returned the money.
Dixon also contributed $1,000 to Joseph T. “Jody” Landers, the former head of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors.
Other notable donors to Rolley’s campaign include the Fraternal Order of Police and its president, Robert F. Cherry, who each gave Rolley $3,000.
Local philanthropists Harvey and Phyllis Meyerhoff each gave $4,000; Former city health commissioner Peter Beilenson and former State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy each gave $400.
Landers has given himself $10,000 and loaned himself another $35,000, according to his report. His campaign manager loaned $30,000. Landers also received contributions from various real estate political action committees and companies.
Jared DeMarinis, director of the campaign finance division of the elections board, State said challenger Wilton Wilson had filed an affidavit stating his campaign had neither raised nor spent more than $1000.
Clerk of Courts Frank M. Conaway Sr. said he has been raising funds but did not have figures available.
Fundraising for this year’s campaign got off to a quick start, with Rawlings-Blake raising $600,000 at a gala before the first reporting deadline, in January. Pugh and Rolley also brought in six-figure takes.
Spence, the Hopkins political scientist, said Rawlings-Blake “knew she had to hit it hard to be able to kind of sit down people who were even thinking about giving money or aggressively pushing another candidate.”
Her opponents have chastised her for not participating in more debates or candidate forums. She made her second debate appearance on Tuesday, on the radio show hosted by former state Sen. Larry Young.
Norris, of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, said Rawlings-Blake has run a solid campaign, but must keep it up if she wants to win next month.
“No matter what the poll numbers, no candidate, whether incumbent or challenger, can take their campaign for granted,” Norris said. “She’s got to raise money, and she’s got to campaign.
“From what I’ve seen, she’s running a really good campaign.”
Comments
The spokeswoman used the word "agreeance?" Really?
Posted by: Jeff | August 16, 2011 9:27 PM
Having attended 2 of Rawlings-Blake's fundraisers, I have seen that she has some very wealthy people filling her campaign coffers. People that will be expecting her to look out for their specific interests if she retains her office.
I don't trust her & will be praying that Rolley can pull off the upset. I have more faith in Otis looking out for the common citizens instead of a wealthy few.
Posted by: musicjunkie | August 16, 2011 10:33 PM
Impressive numbers for Rolley...for a man who never held political office. I think he will be underdog that will win this fight.
Posted by: bmore finest | August 17, 2011 12:40 AM
it's queer that the mayor can find a way to raise over a million, but the police can't afford to patrol the crime ridden streets of baltimore city. Boarded up homes, drug dealers on every corner, muders, and we can't afford police
Posted by: ain't so | August 17, 2011 6:26 AM
C'Mon OTIS!!!!
There are plenty of people rooting for you!!!
SRB has had her trial run as Mayor, and guess what? It didn't work...
Same old, same ole.
Otis is the next man up. Fresh approach, fresh ideas.
Get out and VOTE people.
It's not only your right, it's your obligation!
Posted by: Courtenay | August 17, 2011 8:40 AM
"Rawlings-Blake’s campaign declined to release detailed information about contributions and expenditures, which were not due to the elections board until midnight. "
This is all you need to know. The next time Baltimore passes some idiotic initiative that wastes taxpayers money, you'll know why they did, and who is getting the cash.
Posted by: Dennis The Cynic | August 17, 2011 8:43 AM
Stephanie is raising a ton of money from people and organizations who benefit from the status quo. And in case you haven't read the papers in the last couple of decades, the status quo is failure.
For any thinking person this is a one issue election. It's not about anything other than POPULATION. We have problems with schools, crime, infrastructure, and our budget for only one reason: We have a population that is in danger of falling below a level that can sustain the city.
The bottom line is that whoever you are considering for mayor needs to be able to lay out a plan to get people to choose to live in Baltimore. Carefully managing the decline every year is NOT a plan for attracting residents. It's just NOT.
Vote for the candidate who will drive population. Everything else is secondary.
Posted by: G Frangler | August 17, 2011 9:27 AM
keep the faith, citizens of Baltimore. Money couldnot buy the States Attorney election for Patricia Jessamy. She, too, thought the race was in the bag.
Posted by: Willie | August 17, 2011 9:50 AM
Why dont we see the list of Donnors and what benifits they will get if she is elected. The politicians in this State are so crooked. The CEO of Star bucks recently came out and asked everyone to stop giving money to canidates till they can do there JOB. We should do the same thing in Maryland.
Posted by: Joe-Ball | August 17, 2011 10:19 AM
That is all she has is a fund raising lead! She can not debate with out props, and has abandoned the youth of Baltimore both in and out of the classroom. And the personality of a rock.
Posted by: FANN | August 17, 2011 10:22 AM
I see from some comments that I am not the only one who is incredulous at the amount of money wasted on these campaigns - would that money not be better spent on some worthy charity (local or national / international)?
I guess the wealthy / business donors who are relying on the politicians to protect their interests do not see it as wasted...
How do we stop this nonsense?
Posted by: W Evans | August 17, 2011 10:27 AM
"Rawlings-Blake boasts fundraising lead"
Of course that is the most important thing in these races right?
Not plans about what she will do to finally face the drug/thug/black culture that is tearing her and many other cities apart at the seams!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2011 11:23 AM
You can complain all you want about candidates raising money. Until we decide to change the campaign finance laws, it is only going to get worse. Believe me no politician wants to spend time raising money and then answering to their contributors. They are stuck with this system that undermines our democracy. The major force opposing campaign finance reform is, guess who, broadcasters who charge a fortune to run the useless ads that politicians must run and we are inundated with. Campaign finance reform; shout it at your TV.
Posted by: janjamm | August 17, 2011 12:01 PM
According to the SUN.. SRB has had major contributors that have a vested interest in this race.(Grand Prix and Mayoral race)
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-20/news/bs-md-ci-mayoral-fundraising-20110120_1_mayoral-race-mayor-signs-colleen-martin-lauer
"The contractor whose firm is handling roadwork for the race, Pierce J. Flanigan IV, contributed $4,000 to Rawlings-Blake...Willard Hackerman, whose Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel could become part of an arena/convention center complex under a proposal from the Greater Baltimore Committee, gave $4,000"
Funny someone would say that "I dont have the contracts to GIVE away"
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2011 12:47 PM
Anything other than Rawlings-Blake you will have elected another shady individual who WILL embarass the CITY once again. it is the paycheck that is drawing the other folks towards the office.
Posted by: deltasweetiepi | August 17, 2011 1:09 PM
Does Baltimore realy want a MOM puppet as mayor?
Posted by: john | August 17, 2011 1:18 PM
It sounds so odd this city took a dive since she took office dramtically . There is a huge question mark where her campaign funds originated from.I would love a papper trail , but i know that it's impossible.I see a repeat of Shelia Dixion and she has no track record and i'am guessing a substantial amount of her funds came from the N.A.A.C.P.
Posted by: Gregory L Kump | August 17, 2011 1:33 PM
@Kump;
The NAACP does not make campaign contributions. Keep guessing or hit the papper trail.
Posted by: Paulied_D | August 17, 2011 4:00 PM
We have only a few days until election day.. America the beautiful... This 2011 where computer are great to get out the info... the TV is old school.. If you want to change the City on 2011,,, get off your butts and go out and vote... we need recreation centers for our youth.. i do not care about funds if you are not going to spend in the right places... I hope and pray every person in baltimore that can vote show up.. and shocked the world and say we decided on our own,, no O'malley, Barbs or Cummings will decide who we vote for... The day people treat us like a puppet is over.. save our youth.. save our city... give another person a chance to turn our city in a positive direction ,,, so you want O' Malley to be called Governor Mayor of Baltimore Md... He will be running the show... and his baby bro... wake up B=MORE....
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2011 10:48 PM
http://baltileaks.org/where-the-mayor-gets-her-mojo/
Posted by: Mini Me | August 19, 2011 5:47 PM