GOP campaigns to succeed Sen. Coats report fundraising
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - U.S. Rep. Todd Young leads the pack of Republicans running to replace retiring Indiana Sen. Dan Coats when it comes to fundraising, early campaign finance reports show.
The GOP primary campaign, which will pit two establishment figures against a Tea Party-backed rival, is seeing effects from the national anti-establishment mood within the Republican electorate, leaving all three candidates dueling to "out-conservative" one another. But with all three hailing from different parts of the state, the money could make a significant difference in name recognition for Young, U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and former state GOP chair Eric Holcomb.
Young, of Bloomington, pulled in $720,000 in the third quarter alone, pushing his total banked amount $2.2 million, according to unofficial figures released by his campaign ahead of Thursday's filing deadline. Thus far, Young has taken advantage of it, too, running TV ads during the recent Republican presidential primary debate.
But political observers say money alone will not secure the nomination for Young. In recent years, current state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz and former Republican senate candidate Richard Mourdock both toppled better-funded rivals.
Stutzman, the tea party-favorite from northern Indiana, is Young's closest fundraising rival with $618,000 raised since June. His total is $1.1 million. Stutzman also has the backing from the influential Club for Growth and has had roughly $60,000 in independent expenditures made on his behalf by the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Conservative Action Fund, which are both political action committees, according to campaign records.
Despite better than expected fundraising totals, Stuzman's campaign was recently roiled by turmoil, as his campaign manager, pollster and political director have all resigned since last week, former campaign manager Brendon DelToro said. Stuzman's current political consultant did not return a call seeking comment.
"I wish Marlin the best," said DelToro, who said his departure was due to a "difference" over how the campaign should be run.
Holcomb, meanwhile, came in third, raising just $110,000 - pushing his fund up to about $300,000, according to his campaign.
His campaign says the Indianapolis politician has an advantage: Unlike his rivals, who are regularly in Washington, he has time to travel the state to meet voters and local officials. Holcomb also has years of goodwill built up not only as head of the state Republican Party, but also as a trusted adviser to former Gov. Mitch Daniels and as former state chief of staff for Coats.
Campaign manager Justin Garrett said Holcomb plans to visit 11 different counties in the coming weeks and has racked up more than 80 endorsements from local legislators and elected officials. That could give a boost to his ground game when the campaign heats up.
"It's clear people are frustrated with Washington, D.C.," Garrett said in a statement. "And that's where Eric Holcomb stands out."
Democrats running for the seat - former Congressman Baron Hill and John Dickerson, the former executive director of The Arc of Indiana - did not release their fundraising numbers Wednesday.