Democratic candidate Tim Kaine is more than holding his own in the money-raising end of the gubernatorial campaign — raising $10 million so far, compared to $8.6 million for Jerry Kilgore, according to the Roanoke Times. But the Kilgore camp professes not to be worried. First, Kilgore has yet to collect on promised assistance from the Republican National Committee. Second, he hasn’t yet called on the GOP’s No. 1 fund raiser, President Bush, to help out.
And third, Kilgore is making inroads among the moneybags who’d helped bankroll Mark Warner’s 2001 campaign. Sayeth the Times:
Kilgore reported two sizable contributions from business executives who backed Warner in 2001, including a founding partner in Warner’s Northern Virginia venture capital firm. Mark Kington of Alexandria, who contributed $131,000 to Warner’s campaign, has given Kilgore a total of $75,000 – including $25,000 since April 1. And the Chesapeake contracting company Armada/Hoffler Enterprises, which also contributed to Warner, gave Kilgore $10,000 during the past two months.
Quipped Tim Murtaugh, Kilgore’s press secretary: “The Mark Warner money machine has not opened its coffers to Tim Kaine.”
On the other hand, Warner helped raise $1 million for Kaine at a single fundraising event he hosted for his party mate on May 24 in Tysons Corner. And Warner, one of the biggest moneybags of them all (latest Virginia Business net worth estimate: $180 million), has contributed $60,000 so far to the Kaine campaign.
