Even a visit from President Bush couldn’t push Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez’s fundraising past his opponent.
U.S. Rep. Beauprez still lags behind Democrat Bill Ritter in total money raised as the race heads into the final stretch, according to reports filed with the Colorado secretary of state Wednesday.
Ritter has raised a total of $3.5 million, compared with Beauprez’s $3.2 million.
For the two-week period ending Oct. 11, Beauprez raised $322,337, compared with Ritter’s $335,000. Ritter had $190,885 in cash on hand, compared with Beauprez’s $131,698.
Beauprez’s funding woes signal a wariness among contributors to give money to a candidate who is behind in the polls, experts say.
It also reflects Bush’s own struggles in the polls.
“You’ve got to consider who the president of the United States is,” said John Straayer, a political science professor at Colorado State University. “His approval ratings are not real good right now.”
The president helped raised $500,000 for Beauprez, but some of that money was reported in earlier campaign-finance reports, said Bryant Adams, spokesman for the Colorado Republican Party. In addition, Bush raised $308,000 for the state party.
Some political experts said Beauprez, who was behind Ritter by 15 percentage points in the most recent Denver Post poll, could face continuing fundraising problems.
“I think the bigger problem is the growing perception that this race has gotten away from him,” said Jennifer Duffy, an analyst for the Cook Political Report in Washington, D.C.
Indeed, a major Beauprez donor, James Crowe, chief executive of Level 3 Communications, plans to host a fundraiser tonight for Ritter.
The guests include former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer and current Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, both Democrats.
Crowe has given maximum contributions of $1,000 to both campaigns, according to election records.
Both campaigns on Wednesday announced new “positive” ads about their candidates.
In front of pictures of the family playing with a football, Ritter talks about his goal of improving education, health care and the economy.
Beauprez, wearing a black cowboy hat, stands by a horse. “Elections must be getting close,” Beauprez says looking at the horse’s hind end; “there’s that smell again.”
While claiming to go positive, both campaigns took swipes at the opponent.
“We have clearly demonstrated to voters that Bill Ritter’s bad judgment in plea-bargaining with dangerous criminal aliens, allowing them to avoid deportation and be put right back into our communities, makes him unfit to lead this state,” said Beauprez campaign manager John Marshall.
Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer mocked the Republican.
“Today is not a good day for Congressman Beauprez,” Dreyer said. “The president didn’t come through in a big way on fundraising. The congressman is facing a criminal investigation. And he’s standing next to the backside of a horse in his latest ad. Not a good day at all.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
Tally of other statewide candidates’ cash
Campaign-finance reports for statewide races show candidates raised the following amounts during the two-week period ending Oct. 11:
Secretary of state
Republican Mike Coffman, current state treasurer, raised $32,582, for a total of $243,424. He has $81,991 in cash on hand.
Democrat Ken Gordon, the state Senate majority leader, raised $40,543 and lent an additional $28,928 of his own funds to the $60,000 he already lent his campaign, for a total of $347,018. He has $49,796 in cash on hand.
Treasurer
Democrat Cary Kennedy raised $31,206 during the reporting period, for a total of $333,414. She has $46,879 in cash on hand.
Republican Mark Hillman raised $19,946 during the reporting period, for a total of $379,389. He has $125,007 in cash on hand.
Attorney general
Democrat Fern O’Brien raised $7,080 during the reporting period, for a total of $118, 157. She has $13,553 in cash on hand.
Republican John Suthers, the incumbent, raised $22,070, for a total of $465,109. He has $55,665 in cash on hand.
