vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

3.16.2010

Quick update on gubernatorial candidate finances

Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie isn't the only gubernatorial candidate raising money. Recall that last week he raised $115,000 at a birthday party for himself.

Most all the Democrats are busy, too.

However, as we have mentioned before, the public won't get a detailed accounting of how much candidates have raised, from whom or how they've spent the money until next summer when they have to file their first campaign finance reports. Right now any news about money is based on what candidates and their campaigns are willing to release.

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, one of five Democratic gubernatorial candidates, held some kickoff events last week and her campaign staff report she raised about $25,000 from 117 donors.

Sen. Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, another of the Democratic five, is in the midst of a “charge the battery” fund drive. He wants to raise $20,000 in 20 days and reports raising nearly $8,000 with 15 days to go.

A campaign spokesperson for Sen. Doug Racine, D-Chittenden, said he hasn’t scheduled special fundraising events this month because of his hectic legislative schedule.

Sen. Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, said she, too, is a bit tied up writing a budget for state government. Her campaign manager said her fundraising is on track with the campaign's plan.

Matt Dunne, another of the Democratic candidates, reported Monday that Sarah Judd joined his campaign as finance director. Dunne said his gubernatorial campaign has raised more than the $100,000-plus he amassed for a 2006 primary challenge he faced in his run for lieutenant governor.

-- Nancy Remsen

Labels: Democratic gubernatorial candidates, gubernatorial race

posted by vt.Buzz | 6:13 PM | 1 comments

8.28.2009

The lure of that open gubernatorial seat

Thursday afternoon, House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown, couldn't have been more clear.

When asked if he would consider a run for governor, he said, "I'm planning to run for re-election in the House."

He said he'd received calls from several people suggesting he consider becoming a gubernatorial candidate and apparently the idea started to grow on him. That and he had a chance to talk with his wife later in the day, he said.

Friday he joined those talking about the new opportunities in the "changed political landscape."

"I'm very interested in continuing to work for Vermont. I'm looking at a variety of ways I can do that." Running for governor is one of the ways he's pondering, he said, although he added, "My inclination is to run for re-election."

If you are keeping count of all the Democrats committed to or considering gubernatorial runs, here's our best list of the moment:
Deb Markowitz, current secretary of state
Doug Racine, state senator
Susan Bartlett, state senator,
Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tempore
Shap Smith, House speaker
Tom Salmon, state auditor

-- Nancy Remsen

Labels: Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine, gubernatorial race, Peter Shumlin, politics, Shap Smith, Susan Bartlett, Tom Salmon

posted by vt.Buzz | 3:21 PM | 17 comments

7.14.2009

Markowitz tells her competitors -- Match this!

Deb Markowitz, presumably a candidate for governor in 2010, released how much money she had amassed for this effort on the day before the filing deadline -- a challenge to her would-be opponents.

Her total -- more than $190,000, she said, with 90 percent from Vermont and Vermonters. In all, more than 1,000 folks have lined up behind Markowitz, a Democrat from Montpelier who currently serves as secretary of state.

Markowitz started before the rest of the field of potential Democratic candidates, so it is hardly surprising if she ends up with more money when all the reports are filed. The other folks who have said they are in the race are Sen. Doug Racine, D-Chittenden, and Sen. Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille. Racine has been busy since the legislative session wrapped up, while Bartlett went public only a few weeks ago.

Obviously a head start in raising money and securing supporters is important. Time will tell if Markowitz's presumed advantage now sticks. Sometimes a leader steps out of the pack and runs away with the race and sometimes a leader is only a rabbit who loses momentum on the steeps because everyone else held back until it counted.

Markowitz argues in her announcement about her funding -- "This early success is a demonstration of a true movement for real change and new leadership for Vermont."

How important do you think the money tallies are in July 2009, 16 months before the election?

-- Nancy Remsen

Labels: campaign finance, Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine, fundraising, gubernatorial race, politics, Susan Bartlett, Vermont