Politics
Democrats’ coffers brim as Election Day nears
01:00 AM EDT on Monday, August 11, 2008
Three months before the general election, the Rhode Island Democratic Party continues to hold a financial advantage over its Republican counterpart, according to campaign finance reports filed last month with the state Board of Elections.
The Democratic State Committee reported a balance of $57,442 as of June 30. The party began the second quarter with about $85,000, raised nothing and spent about $21,000. The party reported about $6,600 in liabilities.
The Republican State Central Committee reported a balance of $10,413 as of June 30. The party started the second quarter with about $15,000, raised better than $16,000 and also spent about $21,000. The Republican numbers come from an amended report filed the first week of August, after an original report filed July 31 showed the party $2,500 in the red. A party spokesman said the report was amended to correct a past bookkeeping error, which the party had previously disclosed.
The state’s general officers are not up for election this fall, but the General Assembly’s Senate and House seats are. Legislative leaders, all Democrats, enjoy healthy campaign funds.
House Speaker William J. Murphy reported a balance of $78,000 as of June 30.
House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox ended the quarter with $94,000.
Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano reported more than $79,000 on hand as of June 30.
Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed, facing a challenge from Republican Donna Perry, began the quarter with $6,224 and raised about $27,000. She listed about $15,000 in campaign expenses, and ended the quarter with $17,500. Perry, as a new candidate, will file a detailed finance report in October.
Reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission show that, as of June 30, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat, was sitting on a campaign war chest of nearly $3.8 million, up slightly from campaign finance reports filed in the spring.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-District 1, reported $605,000 in campaign cash on hand. His Republican challenger, Jonathan Scott, reported just $17 on hand, and debts of $3,855.
U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin, D-District 2, reported $231,000 in his campaign account, and a debt of $4,022. His Republican opponent, Mark Zaccaria, reported campaign assets of $20,448 and debt of $4,000.
— Mark Arsenault
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