While Gov. Peter Shumlin has told reporters it is too early to say whether he will run in 2012 for a second term, his most recent campaign finance report is an indication that he is well on his way to raising the money he'll need to fend off any contenders - from the right or the left.
With no declared Progressive or Republican candidates in the race, Shumlin, as the incumbent, is miles ahead politically, and his July 15 filings show that he is also putting a large financial distance between himself and any rivals.
Shumlin's campaign reported $187,380 in contributions, including at least $84,365 in out-of-state donations. Some 443 donors gave Shumlin money, and the governor has $170,000 in cash on hand. The governor also carried forward $25,600 from his previous campaign. He has raised about $12,398 in donations of less than $100.
Among the heavy hitting donors (who contributed $2,000 each) in this round are some familiar names: Arthur Berndt, Shumlin's finance chair; Tom Bombardier, a supporter of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; and Sen. Bill Carris (D-Rutland), Barbarina and Aaron Heyerdahl of The Sustainability Group, retiree Charlotte Metcalf, and Rep. Maxine Jo Grad (D-Washington-2).
Shumlin has also attracted some new supporters to his campaign, namely the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) ($1,000), the Distilled Spirits Council ($1,000), the Generic Pharmaceutical Association ($2,000), Main Street Landing Company ($2,000), and the MPP Medical Marijuana PAC ($2,500).
Shumlin has spent about $40,000 already, with the largest expenditures for travel expenses, social media marketing services, personal security, and political consulting. He has spent $9,000 on advisers - $4,000 for consulting by his former campaign manager, Alex MacLean, who is now his Secretary of Civil and Military affairs, and $5,000 for consulting by Bill Lofy, who is his Chief of Staff.
In addition, the governor has paid $9,000 to Theseus Advisors, a Burlington-based company that is providing political consulting services to Shumlin, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, state Sen. Philip Baruth, Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan, and the Vermont Democratic Party.
Unlike last year, when Shumlin gave his campaign several hundred thousand dollars as he lagged in the polls and on the fundraising front, this time, he doesn't have to pull money out of his own pocket to refill his war chest.
Shumlin recently told reporters that he wasn't paying attention to how much money his campaign was raising.
“When I took on this job, I took on a heap of locally grown problems,” Shumlin said. “I am focused six to seven days a week on solving problems in real ways. [...] I'm more interested in the [Vermont] revenue forecast than the campaign.”
If Shumlin isn't interested in how much he's raising, his treasurer, Kate O'Connor, is.
“Gov. Shumlin is incredibly grateful for the strong financial support that he has received,” O'Connor said in a statement. “This overwhelming financial support is a clear indication that Vermonters are behind the governor's efforts to create good paying jobs, make our health care more affordable, and put Vermont on the path towards a clean, reliable, energy future.”
In 2012, Dubie and Shumlin collectively spent $2.913 million on their campaigns; the former Lieutenant Governor spent $1.486 million - $59,491 more than Shumlin did. Outside groups, including political action committees and national party organizations, made an outlay of $1.99 million.
All together, the five candidates for the Democratic nomination spent $1.2 million. The grand total for the 2012 gubernatorial race was $6.1 million.
The GOP candidates who are weighing a 2012 challenge have been left in the dust in this first round of reporting.
Former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who lost in the 2010 gubernatorial election, has less than $1,000 in his coffers at the moment, most of which is a carry-forward from last year's epic money fight.
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Grand Isle-Franklin, is next in line on the GOP side. He has received $250 in contributions and has about $7,140 left over from last year.
Meanwhile, Republican State Auditor Tom Salmon, who has explored a run for the U.S. Senate and has said that he may run for governor, has closed out his campaign account for the auditor's race.
Salmon reported $35,976 in contributions of over $100 and $15,407 in donations below the $100 threshold. He gave all of his money to the Vermont GOP and issued a statement explaining that his July 15 campaign finance filing was a “de facto final close out report.”
The position of auditor, he stated is “not an office sought.” In other words, Salmon might run for governor, he might run for the U.S. Senate, but he will not be entering the race for state auditor.
As for the other constitutional officers, there are few surprises.
This early in the election cycle, it's rare for candidates to worry about raising much money. Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, for example, has just $300 in hand. Secretary of State Jim Condos, a Democrat, has about $4,995 on hand.
Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce, a Democrat who was appointed to her seat when her predecessor Jeb Spaulding won re-election in the last cycle, has raised $7,750. Virtually all of the money for her first-ever campaign for office was contributed to her re-election campaign on July 12 and July 13.
In a press release, Pearce said: “I am grateful for the early financial support of friends, family, and leaders in Vermont, but I look forward to increasing the grassroots donors and supporters that I know are vital to a successful campaign in our state.”
The July 15 campaign finance reporting deadline will be the last until a year from now. At that point, candidates will be required to file on a monthly basis from July 15 through Dec. 15.
Candidates can receive no more than $2,000 from a single individual. Contributions of $100 to $2,000 are listed by donor. Any contributions of less than $100 are aggregated.