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October 19, 2012

Wallace ahead of Mullin in quarterly fundraising

Tim Talley Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Federal campaign finance reports show that the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District raised more money than his Republican opponent over the past three months, but the GOP candidate is still ahead in overall campaign fundraising.

Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission indicate that Democrat Rob Wallace raised about $502,000 during the three-month period that ended Sept. 30 with the bulk of it — $364,525 — being raised after Aug. 8 when candidates were required to report campaign finance information prior to the Aug. 28 runoff elections.

His Republican opponent, Markwayne Mullin, raised about $447,000 during the same period with $321,528 of the total coming in after Aug. 8.

But campaign records also show that Mullin is still ahead in overall fundraising. Mullin has raised a total of $1.32 million since he launched his campaign in June 2011 and had $222,477 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Wallace has raised a total of about $1.03 million since he launched his campaign in October 2011 and had $237,709 in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, according to FEC records.

An independent candidate, Michael Fulks, has reported no campaign contributions or expenses, according to the records.

The candidates will meet in the Nov. 6 general election to replace Democratic Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation who announced last summer he would not seek a fifth term in office.

Wallace’s campaign manager, Kyle Gott, said Thursday that Wallace’s fundraising success over the last three months reflects his strong grassroots support.

“I think it shows the level of strength we’re receiving across the district,” Gott said. The sprawling district covers all of eastern Oklahoma from the Kansas state line in the north to the Red River in the south.

Gott said Mullin is ahead in overall fundraising only because he launched his campaign three months earlier than Wallace and has loaned his campaign more than $250,000. Wallace has not loaned any money to his campaign, according to campaign finance reports.

“We’ve consistently outraised him. We’re proud of that fact,” Gott said.

Mullin’s campaign manager, Tim Ross, said much of Wallace’s campaign donations are from lawyers and special interest groups.

“A lot of powerful special interests are fueling his campaign. We believe this is indicative of who wants him to be elected,” Ross said. “This campaign is the last opportunity for the liberal Democrat machine in Oklahoma to win something, so we expect them to make an all-out effort.”

Wallace, 49, is a former state and federal prosecutor who served as an elected district attorney in eastern Oklahoma for six years. Mullin, 35, is the owner of a plumbing company.

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