Deal, Barnes neck-and-neck with fundraising

Published 11:12 am Friday, October 8, 2010

The two major contenders for governor were just about neck-and-neck for fundraising in the last quarter, according to campaign disclosures filed with state ethics officials Thursday night.

Republican Nathan Deal reported raising $2.67 million since Aug 5. Democrat Roy Barnes took in $2.86 million since June 30. The two were also closely matched with cash on hand heading into the homestretch.

Deal had $1.8 million in the bank while Barnes reported $1.6 million as of Sept. 30.

The pair will be spending heavily on television ads and grassroots efforts heading into the campaign’s final days.

The totals reflect only a fraction of the money being raised and spent in the hotly contested race for the state’s top spot. The Democratic Governors Association has poured money into the state Democratic Party in support of Barnes. The Republican Governors Association has been spending heavily on advertising attacking Barnes, the state’s former governor who’s seeking his old job.

Deal has raised about $6.2 million since entering the race in May 2009. Barnes has raked in $7.8 million since launching his bid last summer.

The different reporting periods are because Deal faced a Republican runoff on Aug. 10 while Barnes won his own party primary outright July 20. Deal’s totals included some money from the runoff, his campaign said.

Barnes’ campaign said 90 percent of the contributors were from Georgia, none came from registered lobbyists and 54 percent were for $250 or less.

Libertarian John Monds had not yet filed his campaign disclosure by 7 p.m. Thursday. The reports are due with the state Ethics Commission at midnight.

Among the other notable tidbits from the campaign reports:

—Republican Karen Handel, who narrowly lost the GOP nomination to Deal, spent $105,000 to bring former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the state to stump for her on the eve of the Republican runoff. Those costs included a charter plane to bring Palin to the state and the costs of the rally at the Intercontinental Hotel in Atlanta.

—Gov. Sonny Perdue’s fundraising vehicle — Perdue PAC — donated $120,000 to the Georgia Republican Party’s “Victory 2010” fund in September.

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State Ethics Commission: www.ethics.ga.gov