DeStefano Outdoes Rell in Quarterly Fund-Raising

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DeStefano Outdoes Rell in Quarterly Fund-Raising

Ted Mann, New London Day October 11, 2006

In his bid to unseat the popular incumbent, Democratic gubernatorial candidate John DeStefano raised slightly more money than Gov. M. Jodi Rell did over the last three months.

DeStefano, along with his current and former running mates, raised more than $1 million in the third quarter of 2006, as did Rell, a Republican. The challenger edged the governor by about $33,000, reporting a take of $1,066,400 for the quarter.

Money matters for both candidates, but perhaps the most for DeStefano, the mayor of New Haven, who faces an uphill battle against Rell.

Recent polls have shown DeStefano trailing the governor by as much as 30 percentage points, and the challenger has been hard at work rebuilding a campaign treasury that was thoroughly depleted by his primary fight with Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.

DeStefano's campaign staff says he is back on track, thanks also to contributions to a candidate no longer in the race - his pre-primary running mate, West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka. While DeStefano beat Malloy in the primary, Malloy's running mate, Mary Messina Glassman, beat Slifka and joined the DeStefano ticket.

"It's been very consistent that the mayor's been able to get a lot of support," said DeStefano's communications director, Derek Slap. "We set an ambitious fund-raising goal of between two-and-a-half and three million dollars. We're on pace to do that."

The campaign reported $307,000 in cash on hand at the close of the latest filing period Sept. 30.

Rell's staff was also pleased with her haul, which she has amassed while forgoing contributions from some state contractors and lobbyists.

"I think she's very pleased with the result, given the restrictions that she placed on herself," said Rich Harris, a spokesman for the Rell campaign. "The governor always believed it was possible."

Rell has raised a total of more than $3.4 million, the campaign reported, and had more than $555,000 in cash on hand at the end of September.

A further encouragement to Rell supporters: the governor's television advertising time through the election has already been purchased, a luxury that DeStefano does not enjoy.

"Considering all of our television is already paid for, we're very pleased with where we are right now," Harris said.

Rell will campaign Friday in Stamford with one of her party's marquee draws, former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who will also appear in Groton today on behalf of U.S Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District.