News 14 Carolina - Political Connections

TGIF!!!!! Quite a week with Helms' funeral and the legislature scrambling to get out of here by next week.

Anywho, make sure to check out Political Connections tonight at 6pm (Friday) and Sunday again at 11am. We're focusing on all of our coverage from Jesse Helms this past week with a few guests added in.

I focused my daily effort today on the fundraising in the governor's race. Story is below..

RALEIGH -- Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has his work cut out for him in the fundraising department.

The Republican candidate for governor has less than half the amount of his opponent, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue.

"The Perdue is very consistent in their fundraising," Peace College political professor Dr. David McLennan said. "The McCrory campaign needs to pick it up to be quite honest."

In the second quarter Perdue raised $2.3 million dollars. She has $1.4 million in cash. McCrory reports more than a million dollars with $700,000 in cash.

In a statement, Perdue spokesman David Kochman writes "Voters across North Carolina share Bev Perdue's vision for world-class public schools, affordable health care, and economic opportunity for all North Carolina families."

McCrory campaign manager Richard Hudson writes in a statement, "When you consider the amount of money Pat has been able to raise in such a short time, it is easy to understand that he has momentum on his side."

On top of just entering the race in January, McCrory's advisors also point out he has raised more money than the last two Republican candidates.

McCrory's campaign says they raised $600,000 more than Patrick Ballantine did in the second quarter of the 2004 race. They also say he raised $190,000 more than Richard Vinroot did in 2000.

While money doesn't translate into votes, it does buy tv time which is important to get votes all across the state. Dr. McLennan believes the third quarter fundraising numbers could tell us how competitive election night will be in the governor's race.

"I think that's what we'll watch for," Dr. McLennan added. "Is he bringing in money from across the state to show statewide support and is he bringing in enough money to make himself competitive with Perdue."

In the U.S. Senate race, Kay Hagan kept pace with Elizabeth Dole raising money during the second quarter. However, Dole still has more than two and a half times the amount of money in her campaign war chest.