Republican Sam Caligiuri, running for Congress from the 5th District, had a strong 1Q of 2010, bringing in more donations than his two leading GOP opponents, Justin Bernier and Mark Greenberg.
Caligiuri said he’s especially proud of the fact that he raised more in individual contributions than Democratic incumbent Chris Murphy. “I was thrilled to have had such a successful fundraising quarter, and exceptionally grateful to my many supporters,” Caligiuri said in a press release touting his fundraising numbers last week.
But the canned statement doesn’t touch on the all-important cash-on-hand figure, a category in which Caligiuri is lagging. He has $204,320 in the bank; Bernier, who has been in the race much longer, has $248,869. Greenberg has $404,027, a sum that includes the recent $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign.
Murphy trumps them all, with more than $1 million.
“Every one of us will be at a financial disadvantage against Murphy but that’s not the key issue,” Caligiuri said.
He noted that when Murphy was challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson in 2006, he, too, was the underfunded candidate.
“The incumbent is always going to have more cash on hand,” Caligiuri added. “The challenger has to be able to raise enough money to get their message out and you have to have the race dynamics on your side.”
It was that dynamic in 2006, a wave of anti-Republican sentiment, that allowed Murphy to topple a long-term incumbent and her financial advantage.
“We have the same dynamic at work for us,” Caligiuri said. “People are very upset with what Nancy Pelosi and Chris Murphy are doing in Congress. His votes are out of step with what people in the 5th district want.”
“We will get out-raised and outspent by Murphy but as long as we remain competitive, we will have the resources to beat him on the strength of our message.”
Caligiuri said unseating Murphy is the main goal, whichever Republican candidate emerges as the party’s nominee. “If I don’t win the convention, I have said all along I will back our nominee,” he said.