TX-SEN: White Reports Fundraising Numbers, Rakes It In From Oil And Gas Industry
Vince Leibowitz | Jul 15, 2009 | Comments 3 |
Houston Mayor Bill White’s campaign for United States Senate has announced that White raised $1.8 million for the filing period ending June 30. Interestingly, a good chunk of that came from White himself:
The contributions for the filing period ending June 30th totaled more than $1.8 million, with more than $1 million raised. The candidate made a donation and matched all June contributions for a personal total of $821,000.
It is particularly interesting that White found it necessary to pour over three quarters of million dollars into his Senate campaign just a few months after his campaign helped lead the media to diss John Sharp for self-funding a chunk of his campaign bankroll. I guess White’s campaign thinks there is some distinction between what White has done and what Sharp did previously, but the fact is that there isn’t.
The campaign’s press release also failed to note that White is raking in more money than any candidate in the nation–Republican or Democrat–from the oil and gas lobby in the current cycle, replacing John Cornyn as the top-dollar recipient this cycle.
Interestingly, White is even beating out Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams in terms of competing for oil and gas money. Given that Williams can actually deliver something to the oil industry for their cash now as Railroad Commissioner, it is amusing that White has surpassed him. After all, if you look at William’s state finance reports, almost everything you see is a contribution from someone–or some PAC–connected to the oil and gas industry.
What does the oil and gas industry know that the rest of us don’t if they are giving to White over Williams?
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Filed Under: 2010 Texas Elections
Vince,
Normally I am a big fan of your reporting. It always strikes me as fair and transparent. However with this United States Senate race your mind clearly seems made up. You are post about Mayor White’s number seem a little out of touch or bias.
“I guess White’s campaign thinks there is some distinction between what White has done and what Sharp did previously, but the fact is that there isn’t.”
Clearly there is a distinction. It is plainly stated that this is a match to donations Mayor White’s campaign received in the month of June, as compared to a direct loan from Sharp to his campaign. If Sharp had raised two million dollars and then match those donations with a two million dollar donation of his own, then there would be no distinction.
While you do bring up a valid point that there are large donations from the oil and gas industry, you overlook or fail to mention that Mayor White has received more then 1000, less then 100 dollar donations, as reported at http://burntorangereport.com/diary/8994/bill-white-raises-18-million-in-filing-period.
Why not post he whole press release as the folks at BOR do?
I just am unclear on something. Are you a declared supporter or on the payroll of John Sharp? Is so I think a disclosure is in order. I look forward to your answer.
I typically don’t post entire press releases because this isn’t a website for press releases. It is immaterial how many donations white got that were for less than $100. The point of the story is to point out the hypocrisy of what White is doing by bankrolling his own campaign but criticizing Sharp for doing the same thing. And no, I’m not on John Sharp’s payroll. But no, Bill White is not my first choice for U.S. Senate.
Then the point of the story is beneath you and is wasted space.
Vince, there were two important distinctions about Sharp and White. First, in the 1Q announcement, Sharp announced he had “raised” $2.5 million. Had he donated the $2 million to his campaign, that would have been accurate. But he loaned it to his campaign.
Then Sharp lacked transparency about what he really had accomplished and refused to release the details until the federal reports came out. Therefore, my criticism (and many others) was that he was not transparent in an age of transparency and that he did not actually “raise” that amount.
White put his own money in as a donation with no hope of every getting it back. As a loan, Sharp is padding his numbers and could pay himself back any day. But you say White is bankrolling his own campaign. I would think that one would need to be funding 50% or more of their campaign to be bankrolling it.
Sharp has put in $2.5 million of the almost $3 million raised.
White has put in $800K of the almost $4.4 million raised.
So White, putting in less that 20% of his totals in a personal contribution match is “bankrolling” his campaign? I want a politician to have some skin in the game, but I also want to know that there is a base of support for him. White has demonstrated both his commitment and that of 3,000 supporters. What is Sharp doing to convince donors that he can raise enough money to compete?
Clearly White is not your first choice, but you are doing your reputation a remarkable disservice to spin this in such a disingenuous fashion.