Gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis raised almost $70,000 during the first 14 days of the month, but it’s too early to tell how much a plagiarism scandal has impacted his fundraising.
The latest fundraising period ended two days after The Denver Post first reported water articles the former congressman submitted as his original work contained passages written by an attorney who now sits on the state Supreme Court.
Campaign-finance reports covering July 1-14 were due Monday.
The next round of reports, covering July 15-28, are due Aug. 2 and should provide a clearer snapshot of whether donations to McInnis have been affected by the plagiarism brouhaha.
“I would assume that the distraction alone will cause a significant fall-off in donations,” pollster Floyd Ciruli said Tuesday.
If McInnis beats Dan Maes in the Republican primary Aug. 10, Ciruli said, “then it becomes very much a decision among donors as to whether Scott can win in November.”
The primary winner faces Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Democratic nominee.
McInnis was paid $300,000 by a foundation for his water articles. When the plagiarism was uncovered, he blamed a Glenwood Springs engineer he hired to help.
Two days later, on the last day of the reporting period, the engineer said McInnis was lying.
Maes, too, has been in the spotlight after agreeing to pay a $17,500 fine for campaign finance violations, including failing to include the occupation of his donors.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
