Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Well, you’re making it happen. We’re winning the finance wars, and that’s a good start on winning an election. Yesterday everybody—political parties, district organizations and statewide and legislative candidates--had to file their pre-election campaign finance disclosure reports. I haven’t seen all the reports yet this morning, but I’ll pick them up later today. But the newspaper reports are interesting.

They report that the State Democratic-NPL Party raised more than $800,000 this year, and the Republican Party raised about $500,000. How’s that for a switch? Republicans in this state have been buying elections for many years, but they ain’t buying one this year. Finally, our candidates are getting enough money to at least compete. In the statewide races, almost all of our candidates report raising more money this year than their Republican counterparts. The exception seems likely to be Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who continues to tap his deep resources at the Republican Attorney General’s Association. He’s gearing up for a run at a higher office and is building name recognition this year in preparation for that.

Even at the Legislative level, when all the reports are in, you’ll see that we are competing on at least an equal basis in the cash wars this year. Our Legislative candidates have been more aggressive than I’ve ever seen them, and that is showing up in their ability to pay for television, radio and newspaper ads they haven’t run in the past.

So, at least now the playing field is level. That’s all we want. I think it portends good things for us on Election Night.

See you on the Trail.

Jim