Townsend has an impressive haul
State Senator and Congressional candidate Bryan Townsend released his 2015 fundraising totals for last year, bringing in over $212,000 in the last three months of 2015. According to the campaign, Delawareans made up more than 63% of their donors and more than half of their donations were for $250 or less.
“I’m tremendously grateful for the early support I’ve received and particularly proud that so much of our backing comes from Delawareans who know what’s at stake in this election,” Townsend said. “Every dollar raised will allow us to amplify our message of progress through pragmatism. “It also shows the policies I’m fighting for – reinvigorating the middle class through job and wage growth, classroom-focused education policies, and ending racial disparities in our criminal justice system – are priorities for Delawareans up and down our state.” […]
“These numbers indicate strong support for Bryan’s candidacy from throughout the state, and shows the kind of grassroots following that Bryan brings to this campaign.” said Campaign Chairman Erik Raser-Schramm. “Couple that with the endorsements and additional support he’s received and it’s clear we’re building a campaign to win this fall.”
It is hard to make comparisons to earlier contested Democratic primaries for an open congressional seat, as there really has not been one in the modern era. John Carney ran uncontested in 2010. The last time the seat was truly truly open was 1992, but that was during the great game of musical chairs between then Governor Mike Castle and then Congressman Tom Carper, and they both really did not face a primary. The last time Congressman Mike Castle was “seriously” challenged by a Democrat was in 2006, and Dennis Spivack raised a total of $382,417.06 during his entire campaign.
The last real state wide Democratic primary for a comparable office was in 2008 between then Treasurer Jack Markell and then Lt. Governor John Carney, both of whom had finance committees up and running for the entire year preceding the election, as opposed to the three months here for Townsend. And Markell raised $440,651.00 and Carney raised $693,944.00 during the whole of 2007. So $212,000 is impressive haul for just three months, especially considering that this primary will be much more crowded than the 2008 Gubernatorial.
I’m also encouraged by the number of Delawareans who have donated and the fact that they are largely small contributions. Signs of a growing grassroots effort.
Like the Sanders campaign, those supporters can and almost certainly will contribute again. Which reminds me, time for me to contribute again…
I blogged from inside Markell’s office once that year. [I think it was after he won the primary.] Anyway – the desk was strewn with notes and lists of people he had either called, was calling, or was calling back to ask for money. College connections, childhood friends, friends of friends.
I was struck by what a miserable grind the fundraising side of the campaign must have been. I’ve ever I harbored the notion of running for something, I was probably disabused of it by that peek behind the curtain.