By NEIL SIMON, Media General News Service
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An article from Media General News Service on campaign fundraising in Virginia's 5th District contained several errors. They reported as fourth-quarter totals numbers that were actually totals for the entire year. Because of incomplete reporting, the article misstated contributions from within the district to Democratic challenger Tom Perriello. The article did not take into account contributions to Perriello during the year through ActBlue.com, a fundraising Web site that supports Democratic candidates. In Federal Election Commission records, these contributions appear to come from Massachusetts, but the Perriello campaign said many were from the Charlottesville area. A corrected version of the story is below. We regret the errors.
WASHINGTON - Although Democratic challenger Tom Perriello raised almost three times more money than incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., in the last three months of 2007, Goode held a substantial lead in the money chase at year's end, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
An article posted Friday incorrectly reported as fourth-quarter totals for campaign fundraising in the 5th District numbers that actually were totals for the entire year. The correct numbers follow.
Perriello, who launched his campaign in September, raised $149,529 between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, according to Federal Election Commission records. Goode raised $52,857 in that period, but he had about $140,000 more than Perriello in his campaign treasury on Dec. 31.
Goode, 61, who is running for his seventh term, had $384,162 on hand at year's end while Perriello had $243,560.
"We're just going to keep raising money," said Perriello, an attorney who grew up in Albemarle County. "I'm surprised at how much support we've got from Republicans and from first-time donors."
Goode was quick to point out the address of many Perriello donors.
"He has a tremendous amount of money from New York and California and other places outside Virginia," Goode said. "This means I'm going to have to work even harder and raise more money."
A Perriello spokeswoman dismissed criticism of the out-of-state contributions.
"It's just the beginning of the national support Tom is bringing to the district," Jessica Barba said.
Perriello, 33, lived in New York for several years. He worked in international law and started non-profit faith-based organizations.
According to the FEC, Perriello received $75,170 through ActBlue.com, a fundraising Web site that supports Democratic candidates. ActBlue contributions appear to come from Massachusetts on FEC reports, but Barba said most of the donors who gave to the campaign through ActBlue are from the Charlottesville area, where the campaign says many college students have donated small amounts.
Perriello's relatives contributed $32,200 to his campaign, many giving the legal maximum of $4,600 for the primary and general elections. Perriello has no opponent in the Democratic primary May 6.
The earlier article, because of incomplete reporting, did not take into account the ActBlue.com donations to Perriello.
Perriello's campaign took no money from political action committees in 2007 and criticized Goode for raising 43 percent of his campaign funds from PACs and similar groups this cycle.
Goode responded, "My PAC donations are less than many, and you'll find the PACs have a relationship to the district." He said realtors, homebuilders and defense contractor PACs that have contributed to his campaign have local projects or members living in the district.
The 5th district stretches from Danville north to Charlottesville. Perriello said the biggest expense he's worried about is gas for his Ford Ranger truck that he's been driving all over the district to meet people. He plans to expand his campaign.
"We are going to be opening offices in Rocky Mount and Danville as soon as possible, and that means we get to meet voters directly - instead of through TV spots," he said.
Neither candidate would estimate how much the 2008 race could cost. Goode raised more than $982,000 for his 2006 re-election. His Democratic opponent that year, Al Weed, raised $597,757 and lost by 19 percentage points.
"Past races have been expensive," Goode said. "This will be a hard fought race."
Goode, a longtime former state senator, won five of his terms in the U.S. House with more than 60 percent of the vote. In 2006, his support dipped to 59 percent.
In other House races, the following fundraising totals for the fourth quarter are corrected.
Republican Rep. Eric Cantor, the number three Republican in the House, raised $272,109 in the quarter. He had $555,271 available at the end of the year.
As Deputy Whip in the House Republican leadership, Cantor raises money and helps other Republican candidates.
Outgoing Republican Rep. Tom Davis of Northern Virginia raised $197,444 in the quarter and had $305,189 at year's end.
In Southwest Virginia, Rep. Rick Boucher brought in $191,995 over the reporting period, bringing his campaign fund to almost $1.2 million.
"It is absolutely routine. It is what we do this time of year," Boucher said. Most of the contributions, he said, are from donors who are sponsoring or have bought tickets to one of two large fundraisers he holds in the district in February.
The only member of the Virginia delegation with more cash on hand than Boucher at year's end was Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from the state's northwest 6th district. He had almost $1.4 million after raising $68,570 in the fourth quarter.
(Comment at mgwashington.com or e-mail nsimon@mediageneral.com)
WASHINGTON - Although Democratic challenger Tom Perriello raised almost three times more money than incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., in the last three months of 2007, Goode held a substantial lead in the money chase at year's end, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
An article posted Friday incorrectly reported as fourth-quarter totals for campaign fundraising in the 5th District numbers that actually were totals for the entire year. The correct numbers follow.
Perriello, who launched his campaign in September, raised $149,529 between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, according to Federal Election Commission records. Goode raised $52,857 in that period, but he had about $140,000 more than Perriello in his campaign treasury on Dec. 31.
Goode, 61, who is running for his seventh term, had $384,162 on hand at year's end while Perriello had $243,560.
"We're just going to keep raising money," said Perriello, an attorney who grew up in Albemarle County. "I'm surprised at how much support we've got from Republicans and from first-time donors."
Goode was quick to point out the address of many Perriello donors.
"He has a tremendous amount of money from New York and California and other places outside Virginia," Goode said. "This means I'm going to have to work even harder and raise more money."
A Perriello spokeswoman dismissed criticism of the out-of-state contributions.
"It's just the beginning of the national support Tom is bringing to the district," Jessica Barba said.
Perriello, 33, lived in New York for several years. He worked in international law and started non-profit faith-based organizations.
According to the FEC, Perriello received $75,170 through ActBlue.com, a fundraising Web site that supports Democratic candidates. ActBlue contributions appear to come from Massachusetts on FEC reports, but Barba said most of the donors who gave to the campaign through ActBlue are from the Charlottesville area, where the campaign says many college students have donated small amounts.
Perriello's relatives contributed $32,200 to his campaign, many giving the legal maximum of $4,600 for the primary and general elections. Perriello has no opponent in the Democratic primary May 6.
The earlier article, because of incomplete reporting, did not take into account the ActBlue.com donations to Perriello.
Perriello's campaign took no money from political action committees in 2007 and criticized Goode for raising 43 percent of his campaign funds from PACs and similar groups this cycle.
Goode responded, "My PAC donations are less than many, and you'll find the PACs have a relationship to the district." He said realtors, homebuilders and defense contractor PACs that have contributed to his campaign have local projects or members living in the district.
The 5th district stretches from Danville north to Charlottesville. Perriello said the biggest expense he's worried about is gas for his Ford Ranger truck that he's been driving all over the district to meet people. He plans to expand his campaign.
"We are going to be opening offices in Rocky Mount and Danville as soon as possible, and that means we get to meet voters directly - instead of through TV spots," he said.
Neither candidate would estimate how much the 2008 race could cost. Goode raised more than $982,000 for his 2006 re-election. His Democratic opponent that year, Al Weed, raised $597,757 and lost by 19 percentage points.
"Past races have been expensive," Goode said. "This will be a hard fought race."
Goode, a longtime former state senator, won five of his terms in the U.S. House with more than 60 percent of the vote. In 2006, his support dipped to 59 percent.
In other House races, the following fundraising totals for the fourth quarter are corrected.
Republican Rep. Eric Cantor, the number three Republican in the House, raised $272,109 in the quarter. He had $555,271 available at the end of the year.
As Deputy Whip in the House Republican leadership, Cantor raises money and helps other Republican candidates.
Outgoing Republican Rep. Tom Davis of Northern Virginia raised $197,444 in the quarter and had $305,189 at year's end.
In Southwest Virginia, Rep. Rick Boucher brought in $191,995 over the reporting period, bringing his campaign fund to almost $1.2 million.
"It is absolutely routine. It is what we do this time of year," Boucher said. Most of the contributions, he said, are from donors who are sponsoring or have bought tickets to one of two large fundraisers he holds in the district in February.
The only member of the Virginia delegation with more cash on hand than Boucher at year's end was Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from the state's northwest 6th district. He had almost $1.4 million after raising $68,570 in the fourth quarter.
(Comment at mgwashington.com or e-mail nsimon@mediageneral.com)