Two things look really good for Ann McLane Kuster with 10 days left before the New Hampshire primary -- and there are also two really good reasons not to get overconfident.
Good news first: In the pre-primary filing period, she outraised her primary opponent and both Republicans combined. Kuster raised $222,507 to Katrina Swett's $36,795, Charlie Bass's $57,190, and Jennifer Horn's $39,036. But don't let the numbers make you think Kuster must have been raking it in via big donations -- a campaign press release reports the average contribution at just $45.09
A Kuster campaign internal poll also has good news:
A Mellman Group poll of 400 likely Second District Democratic voters shows Kuster with 47 percent support, Swett with 24 percent, and 29 percent were undecided. The Mellman Group polled for John Kerry's campaign in the 2004 New Hampshire primary.
Reasons not to relax: That poll shows a big lead, but it's notoriously difficult to predict primary turnout, and this is the only primary on the Democratic side. A low turnout could change the picture.
And while Swett only raised $36k in this filing period, remember that she came into the race with around $800k cash on hand. She continues to have a substantial cash-on-hand advantage -- $798,172 to Kuster's $449,891. There's every likelihood this will be Swett's last race, and she could well decide to pour everything she has into this last 10 days of the primary.
Ann McLane Kuster needs our help making a strong final push through the primary and entering the general election campaign well positioned to beat Charlie Bass or Jennifer Horn (most likely Bass). Give now or volunteer.
Ann McLane Kuster for Congress
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