Darcy Burner Reports Hefty 3rd Quarter Fundraising Tally
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 11, 2007Contact: Sandeep Kaushik, (425) 443-2564
Darcy Burner Reports Hefty 3rd Quarter Fundraising Tally;
Total Raised this Cycle has Passed $500,000 Already
Bellevue, WA (October 11) – Democrat Darcy Burner announced today that she will report another substantial fundraising quarter in her 8th Congressional District rematch with incumbent Republican Congressman Dave Reichert.
In a powerful indication of the growing desire for change in the district, Burner raised a remarkable $305,000 for the July to September period, according to a report that will be filed with the FEC in upcoming days. That total vastly surpasses her already impressive $200,000 fundraising tally from the second quarter of this year.
“The people of the 8th District want strong leaders in Washington, D.C. They want leaders who have the courage and the determination to fight for change, particularly in bringing the Iraq War to a responsible end,” Burner said. “That our fundraising has been so strong in recent months is a testament to the fact that our message of progressive reform is already generating deep support and enthusiasm, while winning thousands of new supporters for this campaign.”
The Burner campaign will report to the FEC a quarterly total of $304,901 raised, bringing the cumulative year-to-date total to $518,630 raised. After deducting expenses, Burner ended September with $370,228 cash on hand banked for her ’08 campaign war chest.
Typically, campaign fundraising slows significantly between July 4 and Labor Day, but in Burner’s case the total raised in the 3rd quarter jumped more than 50 percent. In the equivalent quarter of the last election cycle – the 3rd quarter of 2005 – Congressman Reichert raised only $194,000.
About $123,000 of Burner’s 3rd quarter fundraising came from a unique, four-day netroots drive that keyed off President Bush’s visit to the district. On August 27 President Bush made his first fundraising trip of the cycle for a member of the House of Representatives, stopping briefly in Bellevue to reward Congressman Reichert for his lockstep support on the Iraq War by headlining a high dollar fundraiser that drew about 300 wealthy supporters. Burner's netroots fundraising effort, on the other hand, was fueled by nearly 3,200 contributions from ordinary Americans, each of whom gave less than $40 on average.
Burner's $305,000 fundraising haul is likely to put her in the upper tier of challengers around the country.
In her previous campaign, Burner had raised less than $100,000 by this point in the race. After losing narrowly to Congressman Reichert last November, Burner announced in mid-March of this year that she will challenge Reichert again in 2008.
Burner offered her thanks to all those who have stepped forward early to offer their support.
“I am honored that so many concerned Americans have come forward to demand a new and better direction for this country,” Burner said. “Across the district, people tell me they want leaders who will truly represent their views in Washington, D.C., rather than just become part of the go along culture of the capital. I intend to be exactly that kind of leader.”
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