Editor’s note: Taylor Dobbs contributed to this report.
Gov. Peter Shumlin told reporters on Thursday it was too early to say whether he was running for a second term, but if intent can be measured in dollars, Shumlin’s campaign finance report is an indication that the governor is well on his way to raising the money he’ll need to fend off any contenders – from the right or left.
With no declared Progressive or Republican in the race, Shumlin, as the incumbent, is miles ahead politically, and his July 15 filings show he is also putting distance between himself and any rivals financially as well.
Shumlin has started out the two year, long-distance fundraising race with a mad dash. Shumlin’s campaign reported $187,380 in contributions, including at least $84,365 in out-of-state donations. About 450 donors gave Shumlin money, and the governor has $170,000 in cash on hand. The governor also carried forward $25,600 from his previous campaign. He raised about $12,398 in donations of less than $100.
Among the heavy hitting donors ($2,000 each) first out in this round are some familiar names: Arthur Berndt, who is Shumlin’s finance chair, Tom Bombardier, a supporter of the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, Sen. Bill Carris, Barbarina and Aaron Heyerdahl of The Sustainability Group, Charlotte Metcalf and Rep. Maxine Jo Grad.
Shumlin has also attracted some new entities to his campaign, namely: the AFSCME ($1,000), the Distilled Spirits Council ($1,000), the Generic Pharmaceutical Association ($2,000), Main Street Landing Company ($2,000) and the MPP Medical Marijuana PAC ($2,500).
Shumlin has spent about $40,000 already, and the largest expenditures are for travel expenses, social media marketing services, personal security and political consulting. He spent $9,000 on advisors — $4,000 for consulting by his former campaign manager Alex MacLean, who is now his secretary of civil and military affairs, and $5,000 for consulting by Bill Lofy, who is his chief of staff. In addition, the governor has paid $9,000 to Theseus Advisors, a Burlington based-company that is providing political consulting services to Shumlin, Rep. Peter Welch, Sen. Philip Baruth, T.J. Donovan and the Vermont Democratic Party.
Unlike reporting periods last year, when Shumlin gave his campaign several hundred thousand dollars at a time as he lagged in the polls and on the fundraising front, this time, he didn’t have to pull money out of his own pocket to refill his war chest.
On Thursday, Shumlin told reporters he wasn’t paying attention to how much money his campaign was raising. “When I took on this job, I took on a heap of locally grown problems,” Shumlin said. “I am focused six to seven days a week on solving problems in real ways. … I’m more interested in the revenue forecast than the campaign.”
If Shumlin isn’t interested in how much he’s raising, his treasurer, Kate O’Connor, is.
“Gov. Shumlin is incredibly grateful for the strong financial support that he has received,” Kate O’Connor said in a statement. “This overwhelming financial support is a clear indication that Vermonters are behind the governor’s efforts to create good paying jobs, make our health care more affordable, and put Vermont on the path towards a clean, reliable, energy future.”
In 2012, Dubie and Shumlin spent a total of $2.913 million on their campaigns: The former lieutenant governor spent $1.486 million — $59,491 more than Shumlin did. Outside groups, including political action committees and national party organizations made an outlay of $1.99 million. The five candidates for the Democratic nomination spent $1.2 million. The grand total for the 2012 gubernatorial race was $6.1 million.
The GOP candidates who are weighing a 2012 challenge have been left in the dust in this first round of reporting. Former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who lost in the 2010 gubernatorial election, has less than $1,000 in his coffers at the moment, most of which is a carry-forward from last year’s epic money fight.
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Grand Isle-Franklin, is next in line on the GOP side for the gubernatorial race, and received $250 in contributions and has about $7,140 in money left over from last year.
Meanwhile, Republican state auditor Tom Salmon, who has explored a run for the U.S. Senate and has said he may run for governor, has closed out his campaign account for the auditor’s race. Salmon reported $35,976 contributions of over $100 and $15,407 in donations below the $100 threshold. He gave all of his money to the Vermont GOP and issued a statement explaining that his July 15 campaign finance filing was a “de facto final close out report.” The position of auditor, he stated is “not an office sought.” In other words, Salmon may run for governor, he may run for U.S. Senate, but he will not be entering the race for state auditor.
As for the other constitutional officers, there are few surprises. This early in the election cycle, it’s rare for candidates to worry about raising much money. Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, for example, has just $300 in hand. Secretary of State Jim Condos, a Democrat, has about $4,995 on hand.
Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce, a Democrat who was appointed to her seat when her predecessor Jeb Spaulding won re-election in the last cycle, has raised $7,750. Virtually of the money for her first-ever campaign for office was contributed to her campaign on July 12 and July 13.
In a press release, Pearce said: “I am grateful for the early financial support of friends, family and leaders in Vermont, but I look forward to increasing the grassroots donors and supporters that I know are vital to a successful campaign in our state.”
The July 15 campaign finance reporting deadline will be the last until a year from now. At which point, candidates are required to file on a monthly basis from July 15 through Dec. 15. Candidates can receive no more than $2,000 from individuals. Contributions of $100 to $2,000 are listed by donor. Any contribution of less than $100 is aggregated.
