With Allen's Help, Webb's Fundraising Soars
2006-10-05
Source: Washington Post
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rss feedThe big question confronting James Webb when he became Virginia's Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in June was this: Could he raise enough money to compete with Republican Sen. George Allen's well-funded campaign?
The answer came Wednesday, when Webb announced that he had raised $3.5 million between July and September, positioning him to be one of the most aggressive Democratic challengers in the country. As of Sept. 30, Webb campaign officials said they had $2.7 million in the bank for the final weeks of the race.
Allen officials refused to provide their fundraising totals Wednesday, saying they will release the figures Oct. 15, when federal reports must be made public. But nonpartisan political strategists said Webb's financial success makes him competitive regardless of how much money Allen has raised.
"It is shocking someone would be able to get so much so fast and be the contender that no one thought he would be," said Morgan E. Felchner, editor of Campaigns and Elections Magazine. "It shows he has been able to gain some traction in Virginia. Having raised $3.5 million, that is not chump change, that is something the candidate had to work hard to do."
Webb officials said they raised about $1 million in online contributions, much of which started flowing in after a debate on NBC's "Meet the Press" two weeks ago. Aides said Webb benefited from going head-to-head with Allen on a national stage.
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