“I’m pleased to announce our strongest fundraising quarter to date”
crowed Rep Chip Cravaack Thursday in response to internal and public polls that show him trailing former Congressman Rick Nolan in the race for 8th district congress.
But Nolan wiped that smug grin from Cravaack’s face Friday, reporting that his strongest fundraising numbers to date beat those of the incumbent in the 3rd quarter. Nolan raised $484.663 from July – September, while Cravaack raised only $471,183 for the same period.
Ouch!
Cravaack’s campaign clearly did exactly what others have done: underestimate Rick Nolan.
Nolan made a conscious decision early in the race to concentrate on building a traditional boots-on-the-ground campaign instead of on fundraising. Although it caused some casual observers and opponents to repeatedly question the former congressman’s ability to raise money, it is a strategy that has served him well in creating a strong foundation for what continues to be a very successful campaign. With this foundation solidly in place and the DFL primary behind him, Nolan has been able to focus more time on fundraising and these latest numbers reflect that effort.
But the story is more than just the raw numbers. Of particular significance is that Nolan’s strongest fundraising quarter to date eclipses that of Cravaack’s so close to the election.
This does not bode well for an incumbent congressman who trails his challenger and fails to break 45% in either internal or public polls.
Cross posted at Iron Country Free Press