Culver raised about $1.5 million so far this year

According to a news release from Governor Chet Culver’s campaign staff, Culver has raised nearly $1.5 million in the past four and a half months.  Culver, a Democrat, is seeking a second term this November. Former Governor Terry Branstad, the four-term Republican who is seeking the GOP’s 2010 nomination for governor, earlier this week announced he had raised over $1.6 million from January 1 through May 14, 2010.

Rod Roberts, another Republican seeking his party’s gubernatorial nomination, raised just over $54,000 during that same period.  He had a little less than $33,000 cash on hand on May 14.  Bob Vander Plaats, the third Republican in the primary battle for the GOP’s 2010 nomination for governor, has not yet filed his paperwork, which is due today (May 19, 2010).  UPDATE at 3:40 p.m.:  Vander Plaats has raised over $284,000 during the reporting period.  His campaign news release is below, too.

STATEMENT FROM CULVER CAMPAIGN MANAGER ON FUNDRAISING SUCCESS
CAMPAIGN HAS MORE THAN $3.256 MILLION ON HAND

DES MOINES – Culver/Judge Campaign Manager Donn Stanley released the following statement today on the campaign’s fundraising success in the first period.

“We’re proud to announce today that our campaign has $3.256 million on hand and has raised nearly $5.798 million since 2007. During this past fundraising period, the campaign raised $1.48 million. 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.

“With the latest round of fundraising success, Governor Culver is well poised to take on whoever comes out of the Republican primary in June. The Republican candidates still have the most expensive weeks left to go in their primary, and even Terry Branstad reported having only $1.2 million on hand.

“Our campaign has $2 million more on hand than any of our other opponents. Additionally, since the last campaign filing, we’ve widened the cash on hand gap with Terry Branstad by an additional $800,000.

“Iowans support Governor Culver’s record of accomplishment in expanding preschool, making healthcare available to all of Iowa’s children, in his flood recovery efforts, and on jobs. And, he was able to act on these priorities all the while signing a balanced budget which is smaller than the one he inherited and refusing to raise taxes on hard-working Iowans.”

VANDER PLAATS FINANCIAL REPORT: CAMPAIGN RAISES $284,383 SINCE JANUARY, HAS $247,613 FOR STRETCH RUN TO PRIMARY DAY
 
 DES MOINES – The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats today submitted its financial disclosure report to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, showing it raised $284,383 between January 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.
 
 “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.  “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.”
 
 When the campaign’s Jan. 1 cash on hand figure of $203,109.46 is added to the $284,383.46 that was raised during this period, its May 14 subtotal was $487,492.92. The campaign had expenditures totaling $239,879.63 during the most recent period for a May 14 total cash on hand figure of $247,613.29. The campaign received $3,024 in in-kind contributions and had no loans or unpaid bills.
 
 In 2009, the campaign reported cash contributions of $595,740 and in-kind contributions of $61,999 for a total of $657,740 in contributions. It reported expenditures totaling $392,630 during 12 months in operation that year. Its cash on hand was $203,109.46 at year’s end.