Brian Moran to report $1.4 million

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Brian Moran to report $1.4 million
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With the Democratic primary still a year away, Del. Brian Moran’s campaign for governor got some serious wind under its sails this week as his campaign said it plans to report $1.38 million raised in the first six-month reporting period of 2008, the most ever raised in a reporting period by a new statewide gubernatorial candidate.

Moran’s fundraising exceeds the amount raised by then-Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore in the first half of 2004, the most recent comparable fundraising period, and sets the record for candidates without a previous statewide campaign.

Moran’s tally put him ahead of the $1.24 million that Tim Kaine took in during the first six months of 2004. “I am humbled and encouraged by the support and generosity of my friends,” Moran said. “It has been a pleasure to get to know Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth citizens who truly care about the direction of our state. The response has been amazing.”

Moran, who lives on the West End and represents the state’s 46th district as House Minority Leader, was barred from raising funds between January 9 and March 13 because fundraising is restricted during the General Assembly session. “Brian’s getting help from people across the entire state because Democrats realize he has a strong record and the best chance to win in November of 2009,” said veteran Alexandria politico Mame Reilly, director of Virginians for Brian Moran.

Moran’s campain has about $800,000 cash on hand, as of July 1, Reilley said. His fundraising committees added over $1 million in new monies to its accounts during the most period, which Reilley said “lays the groundwork for an impressive statewide finance effort.”

Moran is known as a tireless campaigner, often crisscrossing the state several times in a week. In the last three months, his fundraising included events in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke and across Northern Virginia, which Reilley said highlights broad-based, statewide support. In March, Moran launched a sweeping expansion of his staff, hiring General Consultant Steve Jarding, Senior Advisor Jean Jensen, Outreach Consultant Del. Lionell Spruill, Sr., Political Director Dominic Gabello and others.

Since January 2006, when Moran began whispering about a potential run, he has become a dominant fundraiser in the Democratic contest for governor. From January 2006 through the first half of 2008, Moran has raised over $3.3 million.  Last year, Moran helped lead the House Democratic Caucus to the largest gains in a generation and raised a total of $914,773 for Democratic candidates and campaign purposes.

Moran’s opponent in next June’s primary, Virginia Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), will release his totals on the July 15 filing deadline, a Deeds spokesman said. Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who is uncontested his race for the Republican nomination for governor, said he plans to release his report this week.

Meanwhile, former Gov. Mark Warner (D) of Old Town hauled in nearly $3 million for his U.S. Senate race since April, bringing his total to $9.3 million, his spokesman said Monday. Warner now has over $5 million in his coffers five months before the November election. A campaign spokesman said $242,000 has been raised this spring through the Internet.

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R), Warner’s challenger, did not have a fundraising tally available. A spokesperson for the Gilmore campaign said that tallies would not be ready until the quarterly report filing deadline on July 15.

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