Congressional Campaign Finance Update

The quarterly filings for the FEC are in and all three Democratic challengers in the races we're interested in (FL 18, 21 and 25) all raised more than the Republican incumbents. Here's the latest:

Raul Martinez
Net Contributions: $329,500
Cash on Hand: $1,118,166

Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Net Contributions: 285,154
Cash on Hand: 1,742,662

Joe Garcia
Net Contributions: 383,568
Cash on Hand: 373,047

Mario Diaz-Balart
Net Contributions: 337,260
Cash on Hand: 1,132,082

Annette Taddeo
Net Contributions: $195,393
Cash on Hand: $110,792

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Net Contributions: 207095.00
Cash on Hand: 1125990.04

Some observations. Despite being out-raised by Raul Martinez during the quarter, Lincoln Diaz-Balart has a more than $600,000 advantage in cash on hand.

The cash on hand disparity is even greater between Mario Diaz-Balart and Joe Garcia. Joe somehow spent $799,819 before even getting into October. Mario has more a more than $700,000 advantage in cash on hand. Diaz-Balart is leading in the latest Univision poll, 45-37. UPDATE: The bulk of the money Joe spent went to "Joe Trippi and Associates" for "Media" ($509,721). Perhaps this was pre-billed media for ads that are coming.

And lastly, poor Annette Taddeo. She raised a significant amount during the quarter but like Joe spent an inordinate amount before getting to the home stretch ($530,694). Taddeo has only $110,792 in her coffers. She's already lent her campaign $350,000. She's also polling well behind Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (52-27 according to a Univision Poll). The only way Taddeo wins is if she calls ACORN.

Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at October 17, 2008 12:58 AM