Candidate Alert: ‘Show Me The Money’

Money is mother’s milk of political campaigns. In the next week the mayoral operations of Bill Finch, Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane Foster will put on a fundraising push before the end of the June 30 reporting quarter. The expected September 16 Democratic primary will likely break spending records featuring three full-blown campaign operations.

Finch, as the incumbent, is leveraging the power of incumbency for a campaign haul that will soon pass more than $500,000 in total funds raised.

A big question mark of the mayoral campaign centered on Ganim’s fundraising strength as he positions for a comeback following his conviction on federal corruption charges in 2003. Ganim surprised many political observers, perhaps even himself, when he raised more than $50,000 at a fundraising event in an exploratory phase for mayor. He will likely show more than $150,000 raised at the close of this financial quarter.

Foster got into the race late, but has lined up a series of fundraisers that will show a respectable fundraising performance for this quarter. She spent about $200,000 when she lost the Democratic primary to Finch in 2011.

School board member Howard Gardner and three-time mayoral candidate Charlie Coviello are also in the race. Barring rich uncles, they will unlikely show strong fundraising performances for this quarter.

Where do campaigns spend money? Consultants, field operatives, canvassers, polling, direct mail, media buys, campaign headquarters.

In four weeks, July 21, the 90-member Democratic Town Committee will endorse a candidate for mayor. Finch appears to have an edge there over Ganim. The next day challenge candidates will head to the registrar’s office to try to petition their way onto the ballot.