By David Eggert
Associated Press
LANSING (AP) — Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s re-election campaign raised nearly $900,000 more than Democratic challenger Mark Schauer over an eight-week period and has a $400,000 edge for the final stretch before Election Day.
The latest fundraising and spending reports filed Friday in the governor’s race showed Snyder took in $2.5 million from Aug. 26 through Sunday, spent $3.5 million and had $1.8 million for the last two weeks of the campaign. Schauer raised $1.6 million, spent $2.2 million and had $1.4 million left.
Schauer, a former congressman and state lawmaker, reported taking in far less over the election cycle — roughly $6.5 million, including nearly $1 million in public matching funds, to Snyder’s $12.5 million, some of which the governor used to repay money he loaned his 2010 campaign. Polling has shown Snyder with a slight edge among likely voters.
Friday was the final comprehensive campaign-finance reporting deadline before the Nov. 4 election, though committees must regularly file contributions in the final days.
“Resources matter,” Snyder spokeswoman Emily Benavides said. “With just 10 days until the election, Michiganders can see the clear results of Gov. Snyder’s leadership versus professional politician Mark Schauer’s empty rhetoric.”
Schauer spokeswoman Cathy Bacile Cunningham said he too is well positioned.
“No matter how much money Snyder’s billionaire backers spend attacking Mark Schauer, they can’t hide this governor’s record of cutting education and raising taxes on seniors,” she said.
Schauer’s top contribution was $53,000 from the Communications Workers of America union. Snyder got a $75,000 check from the Michigan Republican Party.
Friday was also the deadline for other statewide candidates to disclose their spending and fundraising:
— Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette maintained his advantage. He raised $434,000, spent $1.3 million and had $1.1 million in the bank. Democratic contender Mark Totten, a Michigan State University associate law professor, took in $340,000, spent $406,000 and had $105,000 left.
— GOP Secretary of State Ruth Johnson raised $56,000, less than Democrat Godfrey Dillard’s $72,000. She spent $365,000, or seven times what the Detroit attorney spent. Neither had much cash on hand.
— Detroit-area lawyer Richard Bernstein, a Democratic nominee for one of three seats up for grabs on the state Supreme Court, added $1.4 million to his campaign, bringing his total self-funding to nearly $1.9 million. The other Democratic nominees, Appeals Judge William Murphy and Wayne County Judge Deborah Thomas, raised $210,000 and $18,000 respectively.
— Justices David Viviano and Brian Zahra, Republican nominees wanting to keep their robes, raised $242,000 and $194,000 and each still had about $300,000 in the bank thanks to early fundraising. Kent County Judge James Redford, also a GOP nominee, raised $93,000 since mid-September.
Also due Friday were reports from legislative candidates, political action committees and state political parties. The Republican Party received $900,000 from the DeVos family in western Michigan. The Democratic Party got $1.1 million from the UAW PAC.
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