July 18, 2008 - 5:44pm
How much do finances matter for Harris and Kratovil?
By Danny ReiterDocuments filed with the Federal Elections Commission are shedding light on Maryland’s 1st Congressional District race, as state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) and state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) both disclosed their quarterly finances.
The Kratovil campaign reported $356,838.55 in contributions in the second quarter and has $454,027.26 cash on hand. Kratovil raised $792,302.35 in total contributions to date for this election.
According to FEC reports, Harris ended with $431,550.58 in contributions during the second quarter reporting period and had $609,482.95 cash on hand. Harris raised $1,905,305.42 in total contributions to date for this election.
Harris also received more individual contributions than Kratovil did in the second quarter. Harris received donations from 509 individual donors in the second quarter, while Kratovil had 370 individual donors.
But, Harris also loaned his own campaign $100,000 in the second quarter and $122,000 to date.
In addition, Kratovil received more from within the state of Maryland than Harris. Eighty percent of Kratovil’s contributions for the quarter were from in-state donors, while Harris received 73 percent of his finances from within the state.
And what kinds of people donated money to Harris and Kratovil?
According to the FEC, Harris collected 76 percent of his contributions to date from individual donors, 17.53 percent from political action committees, 6 percent came from Harris himself and .22 percent came from other sources.
Kratovil received 70.25 percent of his contributions to date from individuals, 25.68 from PACs, 1.3 percent came from Kratovil himself and 2.36 percent came from other sources.
The question remains – do these numbers really matter?
According to Byron Warnken, a law professor at the University of Baltimore, they certainly do.
“Money momentum matters in two ways,” Warnken explained in an interview with PolitickerMD.com. First, the more money a candidate has “the more someone seems electable.” In addition, “the ability to buy television time late in the campaign matters,” said Warnken. “Name recognition on television is the medium for putting that name out there.”
Both the Harris and Kratovil campaigns have said they plan on using a portion of their finances in television time, but did not give any further details.
Michael Cain, the chairman of the political science department at St. Mary's College of Maryland agreed that the timing in which the money is spent matters in a campaign, but warned “don’t get caught up in this money game.”
“This far out, money doesn’t make a big difference,” said Cain. “Money matters. But only at the margin at some degree.”
Cain stressed that “it depends on how the campaign intends to use” the money.
As Andy Harris and Frank Kratovil continue competing for the MD-1 seat, one thing seems clear. As Cain puts it: “Strategy matters with money.”
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You think Meekins has enough
You think Meekins has enough time to sit around and post on this blog? I'm just someone who is very pro-Andy and I enjoy this blog. Meekins is obviously busy running a campaign that Frankie-boy clearly cannot keep up with.
Comments
Sorry about that, my internet froze so I refreshed the page after hitting post comment so it did it a couple times.
Lion...
Is there some reason you posted the same comment multiple times?
Incidentally, there were a number of Harris supporters down in Crisfield for Tawes - any one of a number of them could have commented on how Kratovil did there, and how he did at the Salisbury Chamber....
Well we now know Shoreman is Meekins
Good job implying who you're working for. On this side though, It's mostly people who are tired of the Pelosi comparisions. I'm sure the Kratovil staff is too busy setting up for a win to deal with you. But if the Harris campaign thinks the key to success is to post talking points on a website that only political junkies read anyway, more power to you.
Well we now know Shoreman is Meekins
Good job implying who you're working for. On this side though, It's mostly people who are tired of the Pelosi comparisions. I'm sure the Kratovil staff is too busy setting up for a win to deal with you. But if the Harris campaign thinks the key to success is to post talking points on a website that only political junkies read anyway, more power to you.
Well we now know Shoreman is Meekins
Good job implying who you're working for. On this side though, It's mostly people who are tired of the Pelosi comparisions. I'm sure the Kratovil staff is too busy setting up for a win to deal with you. But if the Harris campaign thinks the key to success is to post talking points on a website that only political junkies read anyway, more power to you.
Well we now know Shoreman is Meekins
Good job implying who you're working for. On this side though, It's mostly people who are tired of the Pelosi comparisions. I'm sure the Kratovil staff is too busy setting up for a win to deal with you. But if the Harris campaign thinks the key to success is to post talking points on a website that only political junkies read anyway, more power to you.
Well we now know Shoreman is Meekins
Good job implying who you're working for. On this side though, It's mostly people who are tired of the Pelosi comparisions. I'm sure the Kratovil staff is too busy setting up for a win to deal with you. But if the Harris campaign thinks the key to success is to post talking points on a website that only political junkies read anyway, more power to you.
Shoreman
Clearly the one feeling the heat from up above (the oil companies)is Andy Harris, who performs polling but doesn't release the results. Not typically a good sign for the favorite in a Republican stronghold.
Andy hears the footsteps...
Wow...the Frankie-Boy shills
Wow...the Frankie-Boy shills are out in full force today...must be getting some heat from up above. Ask Frank how Crisfield went for him...or how badly he bombed at the Salisbury Chamber, according to people I know who were there...I hope you like your job as a prosecutor Frankie...cause you are going to be doing it for a bit longer.
Lion King
I agree with your points Lion King, but don't be so personal and mean...it only makes our side look bad. Also Tim could be talking about things % wise instead of total money...in which case Kratovil did get more of his money from PACs than Harris.
The fact is Harris has got more than 150k in PAC money, donated over 100k to himself, and is recieving far far more from people outside of Maryland than Kratovil. There is a lot to question and go after in Harris's report and I think it spells out some very bad news for him.
I think when we have a open and honest debate on the facts we win every time Lion King...so lets try to avoid the personal attacks on other posters.
Wrong Tim1
Wrong dipsh*t. Harris received 150k from PACs. Kratovil 135k. Thus further proving the fact that the Harris people that post on here are so incredibly stupid they can't even read. Maybe that's why they support Harris. Now, if Tim1 wasn't a complete moron, he might go to FEC.gov. There you can find all sorts of interesting data about fundraising like say, how much they raised, how much PACs etc. gave to them, and even what people spent there money on. For example, Harris spent $12,000 on a New York pollster but decided not to release the information. Hmm.. maybe the poll wasn't to good. Now, I'm sure you Harris lovers can find some BS reason for this, but for all you out there reading this. I JUST PROVED THIS MORON CAN'T READ! How on earth can he be expected to analyze anything if he doesn't have basic skills like being able to tell which number is bigger.
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00435974/350353/sb/ALL
Talking about lies
Harris is trying to paint Kratovil as an outsider and part of the PG political machine...yet Harris (who is from New York and barely lives within the district lines) received more out of state money. You're right...#'s dont lie.
So Harris received more
So Harris received more individual donations than Kratovil, and far less PAC $$$. I guess liars can lie, but #'s don't.
Change
I know one thing we don't need...someone like Harris who is only offering more of the same.
To answer your longwinded,
To answer your longwinded, overworded question...a prominent Maryland Democrat.
Kratovil represents more of the same tax and spend crowd that we have in Annapolis. I'll take a pass on someone who will be "an ally of the Governor."
OOOOOOOO Frank is supported by the former Comptroller
Okay which is scarier, a candidate for Congress in Maryland supported by a prominent Maryland Democrat or one supported by EXXON, Halliburton, Chevron, Constellation Energy, and IPAA Wildcatters who is out hawking a "prescription for relief of pain at the pump?" Or how about a candidate supported by loony tunes Phyllis Schlafly's organization Eagle Forum, that believes women belong in the bedroom, not the boardroom. Yup, keep 'em barefoot and pregnant, subserviant to men. Of course when the candidate is an OB anesthesioligist so that's more business for him. I can understand being antiabortion, but these groups are anti-contraception and anti-women.
CURRAN, J. JOSEPH III Shows
CURRAN, J. JOSEPH III
Shows up on Kratovil's campaign finance report. Gosh, is that the same Curran. Oh wait, but Franky doesn't want to be established with O'Malley except to say he'll be his ally in Washington. What a joker.
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