More Than $1 Million Retained In The Bank
posted July 1, 2009
Although late contributions are still being tallied and his official campaign finance report will not be filed until closer to the July 15 reporting deadline, Zach Wamp announced today that he has already raised and will report more than $1.2 million for his campaign for governor.
Also, Rep. Wamp said his campaign has been able to bank away more than $1 million of those funds for use next year in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
The campaign of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam is at $3.8 million.
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, another GOP candidate, said he has taken in $1.3 million though he was not allowed to accept funds while the Legislature is in session.
He said he has been raising $325,000 per week compared to $141,000 per week for Haslam.
Lt. Gov. Ramsey said, "I don't mind that other folks inherited advantages in this campaign that I can't control - I'm going to earn it every step of the way."
Rep. Wamp, who is from Chattanooga, said earlier he expected to be far outspent by Mayor Haslam, whose family made a fortune tied to Pilot Oil.
“I could not be more grateful to so many folks all across Tennessee who have contributed so early and so generously to our campaign,” Rep. Zach said. “At the beginning of this year, we set an internal goal and built a plan to raise $1 million by June 30th. But thanks to the support of so many regular Tennesseans, we not only blew by that goal, but we were able to actually bank away the first million we will need when the real campaign begins next year.”
He said the preliminary totals do not include any roll-over funds from any previous campaign committees.
“While our early fundraising success and cash-on-hand are very important, they are only one part of a winning campaign,” Rep. Wamp said. “And we believe we are the only campaign on the Republican side that is putting in place what it will take to win on every other important front.”
Rep. Wamp said he has in place:
· A strong and experienced campaign management team - led by the former Tennessee Republican Party chairman Bob Davis and a group of other seasoned Tennessee campaign professionals;
· A rapidly-growing Statewide Leadership Team (with more than 250 key leaders announced last week) of leaders, volunteers and fundraisers already actively at work organizing in their local communities and counties across the state;
· A rapidly-growing statewide political organization that features experienced and committed Zach Wamp for Governor County Chairs or Co-Chairs already in place in 25 of the top 30 Republican voting counties that will account for nearly 80% of the likely GOP primary vote in 2010, and in several more Tennessee counties.
· Early leadership for a number of key statewide coalitions forming in support of Wamp’s candidacy – such as the notable “Veterans for Zach Wamp Leadership Team” announced earlier this week.
· A group of nationally acclaimed, yet Tennessee experienced, polling, advertising, direct mail and voter contact professionals who are already at work and know how to win tough campaigns.
Rep. Wamp said he has also put in place a strong Statewide Finance Committee (to be announced soon), led by Knoxville business executive and former TVA chairman Bill Baxter, as well as a planned series of regional and county fundraising events during the second half of 2009 that will help grow his fundraising success.
“I have really felt the momentum begin to shift our way, especially in the last few weeks, in counties all across the state,” Rep. Wamp said. “And at the end of the day, this race is going to be decided by the people and not by the big money crowd. So I am deeply grateful to all of those regular Tennesseans who are sharing their ideas, their advice and their financial support as we work together to create an even better and brighter Tennessee.”
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