Sanchez spending soars
Posted on 10/08/2002 6:14:47 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Sanchez spending soars
He and Perry total a state record $74 million; Democrat could make national history, too
10/08/2002
AUSTIN - Democrat Tony Sanchez has spent nearly $58 million in a record-shattering bid for governor, assuring the most expensive race in Texas history at a pace likely to break $100 million by Election Day.
Fueled by his own deep pockets, the Laredo businessman is en route to spending more of his own money than any other political candidate in U.S. history.
"It is truly extraordinary," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
According to finance reports filed Monday, Mr. Sanchez spent more than $26 million over the last three months - more than twice the $10.5 million spent by Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
Much of the money went to sustain a flurry of largely negative TV commercials. Both men combined have spent more than $74 million on the race.
The Perry campaign accused its Democratic rival, an oil and banking millionaire, of attempting the buy the race.
"Mr. Sanchez spent more in 88 days than any candidate for governor has ever spent during an entire election cycle," said Perry campaign manager Deirdre Delisi.
"Sanchez's shockingly false and negative campaign spent $26 million in less than three months - $295,000 per day; $12,310 per hour; $205 per minute - mostly on false, negative television and mail attacks.
"Let's hope Mr. Sanchez and his free-spending team never get their hands on taxpayer dollars or the $114 billion state budget."
Sanchez campaign spokesman Mark Sanders defended their candidate's spending, saying, "Tony is committed to spending what it takes to change this government so we can fix this insurance crisis and reform the way we educate our kids."
Details on reports
While Perry aides delivered his campaign's tallies to reporters in a way that allowed it to be easily analyzed, the Sanchez camp filed its report in a format that obscured the details of its spending. Sanchez officials blamed the situation on computer problems.
Other statewide candidates required by law to file Monday produced reports that could be analyzed in detail by the public. There are no limits on spending or donations for state candidates in Texas.
According to the Sanchez campaign, he raised $1 million from individual contributors and put $22 million of his own money into the campaign during the last three months - bringing to $50 million the total he has spent from his own pocket.
Mr. Perry raised $4 million from contributors during the period - raising to nearly $10 million the amount he has collected so far to win election to the office he assumed when George W. Bush was elected president.
Mr. Perry's largest single contribution was $500,000 from the Republican National State Elections Committee in Washington.
The Perry campaign reported $7 million on hand going into the campaign's final month.
Getting his name out
Mr. Sanchez, who is making his first bid for public office, was largely unknown when he launched his gubernatorial bid. The most recent polls indicate that he has closed the gap but still trails Mr. Perry.
Mr. Jillson of SMU said Mr. Sanchez's relative anonymity required that he put large sums of his personal wealth into the campaign to build name identification.
"Lots of people ride their personal wealth to high office," Mr. Jillson said. "In this case, it was the only way to get where he needed to go because he was a private citizen, having never run for public office before, unknown to the voting public of Texas.
"What he's done is go from 30 points behind six months ago to a high single-digits behind today. And so, that's $57 million well-spent from his perspective."
The previous overall spending record in a Texas governor's race was $53 million, set in 1990 when Democrat Ann Richards beat Republican Clayton Williams. In that race, Mr. Williams spent $8 million of his own money.
In other big-spending campaigns, John Corzine spent more than $60 million from his own pocket to win a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey. And Michael Bloomberg spent some $70 million of his own money to be elected mayor of New York.
The most expense gubernatorial race in the nation was the 1998 California campaign, in which total spending was $118 million.
An analysis of Mr. Perry's contributions indicated that 39 donors had contributed $25,000 or more to his campaign.
They included $50,000 donations from Kenny Troutt, founder of Excel Communications in Dallas; Larry Anders, chairman of Summit Alliance Companies in Dallas; Larry Vollman, vice president of Vignette software company in Austin; and J.L "Sonny" Williams of the Minyard Food Stores in Dallas.
Mr. Perry, who earlier had accepted $10,000 from the scandal-tarnished company WorldCom, gave the money to Downtown Triangle Community Development, a nonprofit company that does after-school programs for children.
Here is a look at other races:
For lieutenant governor, Democrat John Sharp raised about $1.73 million during the period for a total of $7.1 million to date. He spent $4.6 million, mostly on commercials.
His Republican opponent, Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, reported expenditures of $6.68 million for the three-month period. His contributions were $2.7 million, of which $1.9 million came from Mr. Dewhurst himself. The campaign reported a loan of $4.4 million from banks.
For attorney general, Republican Greg Abbott raised more than $1.5 million and spent $916,005. Democrat Kirk Watson reported spending $1.7 million and raising $1.3 million.
Republican Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander raised $557,424 in the reporting period and spent $267,656. Her Democratic rival, Marty Akins, reported raising about $289,000 for the period and spending about $186,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
E-mail wslater@dallasnews.com and pslover@dallasnews.com
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Excerpt:
AUSTIN – Democrat Tony Sanchez has spent nearly $58 million in a record-shattering bid for governor, assuring the most expensive race in Texas history at a pace likely to break $100 million by Election Day.
Fueled by his own deep pockets, the Laredo businessman is en route to spending more of his own money than any other political candidate in U.S. history.
"It is truly extraordinary," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
According to finance reports filed Monday, Mr. Sanchez spent more than $26 million over the last three months – more than twice the $10.5 million spent by Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
Much of the money went to sustain a flurry of largely negative TV commercials. Both men combined have spent more than $74 million on the race.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
Just brilliant....what am I missing ?
Just brilliant....what am I missing ?
No kidding. The trial lawyers and NEA must want something, and want it BAD! As a Texan I find myself wondering what it is and how they'll screw us over if he gets elected (which I doubt he will). Beyond trying to embarass President Bush, I can't guess.
GOD I HATE SOCIALISTS !!!
Actually, the Governorship of Texas is the weakest office in the state. Ol' Bob Bullock, the famed Lt. Governor, had by far the most powerful office. The Lt. Gov chairs the State Senate and controls the flow of legislation.
After Reconstruction, Texans wrote a Constitution that severely limits the State Govt. in general and the Governor's powers in particular. Our Legislature can only meet for 60-days every other year--and the old saying is:
"No man's property or his freedom is safe while the Legislature's in Austin."
So why run for Governor? It's only a stepping-stone--a high-profile figurehead position, and an ego trip for Sanchez.
I am meeting a lot of really neat Freepers here in So. Calif. and also, we are trying to recruit new ones, when we go to protests against GRAYED out Davis. Had a fun Freep the Creep event yesterday in LA.
Barb
Sanchez needs to spend more of his money and the demonrats faster..........yeah spend it all :o)
Stay Safe !
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