MORGANTOWN – The fundraising reports for the two candidates for the new 2nd Congressional District paint a picture of stark contrasts.
The district covers 26 northern counties. We look at two of their reports: the October Quarterly report covering July 1-Sept. 30, and the Pre-General covering Oct. 1-19.
Republican Alex Mooney represents the current 2nd District, spanning 17 counties across the center of the state. His October Quarterly report fills 229 pages. His Pre-General takes another 58 pages.
Democrat Barry Wendell served two terms on Morgantown City Council. His October Quarterly plus his Pre-General fill a combined 36 pages.
You can guess how far apart their fundraising totals are.
Wendell started in July with $2,938.73. During that period he raised $14,802 from individuals and gave his campaign a $1,000 loan in August. His operating expenditures were $9,276.38, ending the period with a balance of $9,464.35.
During the following 19 days he received another $2,206 from individuals plus his sole PAC contribution: $290.09 from It Starts Today.
It Starts Today aims at electing Democrats across the country and offers a crowdsourcing platform for contributions.
During this period, his operating expenditures were another $9,477.87, leaving a balance of $2,482.57.
His fundraising total for the entire election cycle was $23,817.09 from individuals plus the $290.09 PAC contribution; his operating expenditures were $22,334.52.
Mooney started July with a campaign account 23 times the size of Wendell’s total for the entire election cycle: $558,520.02.
He then raised $169,140.75 from individuals, $100,500 from PACS and $22,076.59 in transfers from other authorized committees.
His operating expenditures were $127,344.59, leaving a balance of $724,272.51.
During the following 19 days he brought in another $64,989 from individuals and $10,900 from PACs. His operating expenditures were $39,056.71.
Mooney’s fundraising totals for the election cycle were $1,420,872.03 from individuals, $5,000 from party committees and $395,240.24 from PACS. His transfers from other authorized committees totaled $2,409,427.32.
Mooney’s operating expenditures for the entire election cycle – taking into account he won a hard-fought primary against his 1st District colleague David McKinley – were 157 times Wendell’s, at $3,522,761.08.
The next report, the Post-General, will cover Oct. 20-Nov. 28 and must be filed by Dec. 8.
Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
