U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., addresses supporters before first lady Michelle Obama speaks during rally for re-election of U.S. Sen. MarkUdall, D-Colo., in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, one of the chamber’s few vulnerable Democrats facing re-election in 2016, needs to raise serious cash and quickly.
Bennet started the 2016 campaign cycle with $1.2 million in the bank, federal finance reports show. It put him in the “loser” category and earned a jab from national Republicans.
The fundraising benchmark set by fellow Democrat Mark Udall in his unsuccessful 2014 re-election bid: $17.4 million. All told, Udall spent $18.3 million, the latest FEC reports show.
Republican Cory Gardner’s campaign spent $12.5 million to win the election, roughly what he raised. And of course none of this includes the tens of millions spent by outside groups to influence the race.
But Bennet’s meager bank account at the start is not out of line. Udall started the 2014 cycle with $1.4 million in the bank.
And as The Hill noted: “The former DSCC chairman begins the election cycle with $1.2 million, not a huge sum as he heads into what could be a tough and expensive reelection in another presidential swing state. Like (Sen. Harry) Reid, Bennetap focus last year was on helping his colleagues, and he has a deep fundraising network to draw from following his time at the DSCC.”
