By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog

CHARLESTON — The Democratic frontrunner continues to outraise his Republican opponent, but the Republican has more cash on hand.

The West Virginia Secretary of State‘s office released the pre-general campaign finance reports for the campaigns of Democratic Senate President and Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, and Republican businessman Bill Maloney.

The reports, which cover between Aug. 26 and Sept. 23, show Tomblin with a massive fundraising lead and Maloney largely self-funding his campaign.

During the reporting period, Tomblin raised $565,936.81, receiving $255,485 from direct contributions, $302,615 from fundraisers, $5,150 from transfers from other elected officials, and $2,686.81 from in-kind contributions. The Tomblin campaign has $281,849.10 in cash on-hand after paying $1,269,182.69 in expenditures. Tomblin has raised $3.8 million since the start of the election, with $3.5 million in expenditures.

Maloney raised a total of $127,075 from contributions, according to his campaign finance report, with $35,040 coming from individual donors and $91,835 from fundraisers. Maloney also loaned his campaign $400,000, giving him $331,407 in cash on-hand. Maloney has raised $836,545 since the start of the election, with $2.3 million in expenditures.

Tomblin outraised Maloney by 78 percent during the reporting period and raised 78 percent more than Maloney to date, but Maloney has 18 percent more cash on-hand this period. Campaign donations for both campaigns are slowing with the Oct. 4 special election less than two weeks away. Last reporting period saw Tomblin raising $1.3 million in donations, 69 percent more than Maloney, who raised $392,985 last reporting period.

“We’re excited about our momentum and will work hard through the Oct. 4 election,” said Joe Shafer, campaign manager for the Acting Governor Tomblin. “We won’t let New York millionaire Bill Maloney and his out-of-state friends buy this election with money he made when he sold out West Virginians and let jobs move to Pennsylvania.”

Maloney loaned his campaign $750,000 during the last reporting period. Maloney has loaned his campaign $1.3 million since the start of the general election May 14 and $1.8 million since first filing to run in the Republican primary.
and $1.8 million since

The news comes a day after new polling data showed a 10-point spread between the candidates. The poll, conducted by the Mellman Group and paid for by the Democratic Governor’s Association, shows Tomblin leading Maloney 46 percent to 36 percent.

Related articles

• Tomblin makes gains in latest poll (westvirginia.watchdog.org)
• WatchBlog: Tomblin releases second negative ad (westvirginia.watchdog.org)
• Report claims Maloney receives compensation from sold company (westvirginia.watchdog.org)
• WatchBlog: RGA launches third anti-Tomblin ad (westvirginia.watchdog.org)
• Acting Governor, Tomblin family, share same mailbox (westvirginia.watchdog.org)