Greenbacks came like showers in April for gubernatorial hopeful Bill Ritter, who better than doubled his opponents’ fundraising for the month.
Ritter, the lone Democrat in the race, raised more than $156,000 from April 1 through April 25, according to campaign-finance records filed Wednesday.
Republicans Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman raised $73,428 and $61,022, respectively.
Ritter’s campaign also outraised the two Republicans in the first quarter of this year, and Ritter said he was able to build on that success.
“There is a momentum in this campaign that is unmistakable,” Ritter said Thursday.
Beauprez spokesman John Marshall said his campaign continues to be enthused by fundraising efforts. The Beauprez campaign has raised about $1.8 million, Marshall said. Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said their campaign has raised about $1.3 million.
Holtzman’s campaign has raised about $1.4 million, and Holtzman has given himself $540,000 in personal contributions and loans.
“We feel very fortunate to have all the support that we do,” Marshall said. “Right now, we are very focused on the (state) assembly and on delegates. … All of this is kind of academic if you don’t win the party’s endorsement.”
Holtzman was the big spender during April, shelling out just over $280,000. With the state assembly approaching, the campaign spent tens of thousands at a time on mailing, telemarketing and research and polling firms.
Holtzman’s campaign had no comment Thursday.
Wednesday’s reports marked the first monthly filing of the governor’s race. Until now, candidates have been required to release their finances only every quarter.
Ritter’s favorable reporting came a day after backers of an emergency-contraception bill decided to drop the issue and focus on getting Ritter elected.
Ritter credited the campaign’s recent success to commitment, his previous success raising money and his freedom from a party primary.
“It is much easier to talk about the issues of our campaign,” Ritter said of not having a primary opponent.
But Ritter noted that “a day will come” when Republican opponents turn their attention to him.
Beauprez spokesman Marshall agreed, taunting both of his rivals by saying that after the state assembly, the campaign would “get on with beating Bill Ritter.”
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
