This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 17, 2011 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon appears to have outraised every other major politician in the state, Democrat or Republican, by collecting $1.5 million during the past three months.
According to Nixon's campaign finance report disclosed this morning, the governor has amassed $4.22 million in the bank, almost three times the amount of his expected Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
Nixon's campaign says the $1.506 million (cash and inkind) he has collected since July 1 came from 1,208 contributions and shows "clear momentum." Almost half of the donations were $100 or less.
As the Beacon reported over the weekend, Kinder raised only $455,521.82 in cash and inkind contributions during the same period -- and spent more than he collected. As a result, Kinder's bank account is smaller than it was in July.
In one aspect, Kinder did best the governor -- in spending. Nixon reported spending $430,000 since July 1, while Kinder's tally was more than $100,000 higher.
Nixon's fundraising success also is tied to Missouri's lack of campaign-donation limits. Although his campaign highlights his small contributions, since July 1, the governor also collected 27 donations larger than $5,000 apiece.
The state's other top Democrat on the 2012 ballot, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, has reported raising less money than Nixon, but she also has to comply with the federal campaign donation limits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for political action committees. (The Beacon is not reporting her totals until we have obtained a copy of her report or the official summary sheets. Senate tallies often take a week before they appear on the Federal Election Commission's website.)
The Nixon campaign reports that 90 percent of his donations came from Missouri. Aside from being a big boost for the governor, such a tally also could signal that most of the state's Democratic money is flowing into his coffers, as opposed to the Missouri Democratic Party, which he also controls.
Here are Nixon's numbers:
Raised: $6.825 million overall ($1.506 million for the quarter)
Spent: $2.798 million overall ($430,049.05 for the quarter)
In the bank: $4.224 million
