Morgan Carroll netted about $278,000 in donations to end 2015.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, raised more than $313,000 in the last three months of 2015 — edging his Democratic rival, state Sen. Morgan Carroll, by about $36,000, according to figures released by both campaigns.
The difference isn’t much, considering the amount of money the two candidates and their allies likely will spend in the fight for Colorado’s 6th Congressional District.
More than anything, the significant totals for both Coffman and Carroll in the fourth quarter of 2015 reinforce what many political observers already expected — the contest for Aurora’s congressional seat will generate gobs of money, possibly on par with Coffman’s against Democrat Andrew Romanoff.
The one notable difference between the two campaigns is the amount of cash each has in the war chest. Coffman’s campaign is reporting nearly $1.1 million cash-on-hand; Carroll has less than half that amount at $452,000.
That’s a testament, in part, to Coffman’s advantage as an incumbent in the race. And it’s enough of an edge that it could have an impact come November, whether it means more TV ads or mailers, or extra pizzas for campaign volunteers.
Still, it’s likely this race will be the target of major spending by outside special interest groups, as well as the national parties. The degree to which that happens will dictate how much Coffman’s extra cash will help him.
Information on who exactly gave to Coffman and Carroll is not yet available. Those reports are due to the Federal Election Commission at the end of January.
