Carnahan doubles up on Blunt in fundraising

Republicans remain confident in Blunt's fundraising abilities.

By Greg Young

Published April 20, 2009

In the race for the seat of U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, has a decisive lead over U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., in funding for the first quarter.

Carnahan, who entered the race about two weeks earlier than Blunt, raised a little more than $1 million from Feb. 3, when she announced her candidacy, to March 31, when the numbers were due to the Federal Elections Commission. Carnahan has $928,000 on hand.

Blunt raised a little more then half of Carnahan's total, with a gain of $542,000 during that period. Blunt announced his candidacy Feb. 19, and after transferring money from his House campaign committee to his Senate race, had $674,000 on hand.

Missouri Democrats and Republicans are discussing Blunt's fundraising total in different ways. Republicans, such as GOP strategist John Hancock, argue Blunt is a good fundraiser and because he started his senate campaign later then Carnahan did, it should be expected that he wouldn't raise as much money.

"Once he decided to seek the office, he raised half a million dollars in six weeks, and we are very gratified from that," Hancock said. "He will have more than enough money to get his message out."

Analysts point out Blunt's connections in Washington and his role in helping fellow Republicans raise money as the House Minority Whip as evidence that, when focused, he can raise money quickly.

Missouri State University political science professor George Connor, who raised headlines last week when he said that Blunt could "run fundraising circles" around Carnahan, said it is too early in the Senate campaign to take the numbers too seriously.

"Congressmen Blunt is a legendary fundraiser for himself and for other people," Connor said. "I was surprised that the number was low, but I have no doubt that he has the ability to raise the funds necessary to fund a credible campaign."

Missouri Democrats, meanwhile, are already hitting Blunt on his longevity in Congress.

"I was surprised his fundraising numbers were so poor," Young Democrats of Missouri President Rick Puig said. "You'd think that with such a cozy relationship with K Street, he could have done a little better."

One question that arises will be the amount of money the Republican and Democratic senatorial campaign committees put into the race. Because the race is an open seat election in a potential swing state, both political parties, along with outside interest groups, are expected to put a fair amount of money into the race.

The first major ad buy from an outside group came from the League of Conservation voters, which attacked Blunt's positions on "clean energy bills," saying that Blunt needs to "start believing in America again."

Connor said though most candidates lack any control over third party ad buys, both candidates would be wise to try to limit the more extreme attacks on their opponents.

"You have to be careful, you want these outside groups to beat up your opponent, but at the same time it depends on what ads they are running," Connor said.

Early polling for the Senate race indicates Carnahan has a small lead against Blunt. In a recent poll taken by the Republican pollster Wilson Research Strategies showed Carnahan with a narrow 47 to 44 percent lead against Blunt, but she led the other potential Republican primary candidate Sarah Steelman by a 47-39 percent margin.

But UM-St. Louis political science professor David Kimball cautioned against looking too hard into early polling.

"Polls at this stage are often not that meaningful, and I think right now Carnahan has a higher name ID then Blunt statewide," Kimball said.