Culver reports big fundraising edge

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver's re-election campaign raised nearly $1.5 million in contributions during the latest reporting period and now has more than $3.25 million in its war chest, a top official said Wednesday

"We're proud to announce today that our campaign has $3.256 million on hand and has raised nearly $5.798 million since 2007,” said Donn Stanley, Culver/Judge campaign manager.

“We're more than pleased with our fundraising success. It's an indicator that Iowans support Governor Culver's bid for re-election and will choose to create a better future with the Culver/Judge team,” he added. “With the latest round of fundraising success, Gov. Culver is well poised to take on whoever comes out of the Republican primary in June.”

Former Gov. Terry Branstad, five-term state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll and Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Plaats are vying for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination in the June 8 balloting.

Branstad announced earlier this week that he had raised nearly $3.2 million since formally announcing last October that he is making a bid for a fifth term as Iowa governor this year. Branstad's campaign reported taking in more than $1.6 million in contributions for the reporting period covering Jan. 1 through May 14 and having about $1.2 million in cash on hand.

"Our campaign has $2 million more on hand than any of our other opponents,” said Stanley, whose fundraising totals were aided by the fact that Culver is unopposed in next month's Democratic primary. “Additionally, since the last campaign filing, we've widened the cash on hand gap with Terry Branstad by an additional $800,000.”.

Vander Plaats' campaign disclosed fundraising figures Wednesday showing he raised $284,383 between Jan. 1 and May 14, and had $247,613 cash on hand as the GOP primary enters the final stretch to the June 8 primary election. The Sioux City Republican entered the latest reporting period with more than $203,000 on hand and spent nearly $240,000.

“With our cash on hand and our continued strong fundraising efforts in May, our campaign will have the funds necessary to win on June 8,” Vander Plaats said in a statement. “We have the funding to have a significant advertising presence to get our message to Iowa Republicans as they are making their decision about our party's nominee and its future.”

Roberts filed a report with the state Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on Wednesday showing he raised more than $54,000 since mid-January and had $32,615 in cash on hand after spending $120,000 during the latest reporting period. He started with period with nearly $102,000 on hand.

“We've been frugal to a fault with our campaign money,” Roberts said in an interview. “We've not spent it on renting space or having a lot of staff. We've been able to utilize our money very effectively.”

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