Business executives are financing Republican Rick O’Donnell’s congressional campaign while lawyers favor Democrat Ed Perl mutter.
An analysis of campaign-fundraising reports shows that the two candidates vying for the 7th Congressional District seat are fueling their campaigns from differing constituencies.
At least 30 percent of the $900,000 Perl mutter raised from individuals through July 19 came from lawyers. Meanwhile, at least 25 percent of the $1.2 million O’Donnell raised from individuals at that point came from people who listed their occupation as a business executive.
O’Donnell also was popular with homemakers. They made up nearly 12 percent of his individual contributions. Both candidates each pulled about 3 percent of their donations from those involved in real estate.
Overall, by July 19, Perlmutter had raised $1.02 million, 13 percent of which came from political action committees, primarily labor groups. O’Donnell had raised $1.7 million, nearly 25 percent of which came from political action committees, mostly Republican interest groups.
“The money is going to come in by the truckload,” said John Straayer, professor of political science at Colorado State University. “Control of the U.S. House is at stake.”
Both national parties consider the contest to replace Bob Beauprez winnable because the district is evenly split among Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters. A shift of 15 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and six seats in the Senate would give Democrats control of Congress.
“There is just no doubt that this will be the most expensive congressional race in Colorado history,” said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli.
Ciruli said Perlmutter’s long-standing ties as a lawyer helped him pull money from the legal community.
“Trial attorneys and the defense bar are also mainstays of the Democratic Party,” Ciruli said.
It’s not surprising that O’Donnell, the former head of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, is picking up the support of the business community, Ciruli said.
“His position is fiscal conservatism, and as the Republican nominee, he is going to attract business executives who are in a position to write those checks,” Ciruli said.
Having emerged from a tight three-way primary, Perlmutter is at a disadvantage. He was left with $150,000 after last week’s primary, while O’Donnell had banked $1.4 million of the amount he had raised. But national Democratic officials have pledged to provide all the financial support Perlmutter needs. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee already has bought $2.2 million in TV commercials.
Computer-assisted reporting editor Jeffrey A. Roberts contributed to this report.
Staff writer Christopher N. Osher can be reached at 303-820-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com.
