(AP) — Democrat Caroline Fayard slightly outpaced Republican Jay Dardenne in fundraising for the lieutenant governor’s race in the latest campaign finance reports, but she’s also burned through cash faster than Dardenne.
Fayard, a New Orleans lawyer, reported $383,000 in contributions from Sept. 13 through Oct. 13 — and loaning herself another $140,000. Dardenne, Louisiana’s secretary of state, raised $343,000 in the same period, according to reports filed late Monday with the state ethics board.
After expenses, Dardenne’s campaign account contained $314,000, compared to $150,000 for Fayard. Among the biggest expenses for both were thousands of dollars in television and radio advertising. Fayard is getting help from the state Democratic Party, which has bought ad time for her. Dardenne hasn’t received similar help from the state Republican Party.
The election is Nov. 2.
Besides being second-in-line to the governor, the lieutenant governor oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and manages parks, museums, the state library and statewide tourism efforts.
The election is to fill the remaining year of the term of Mitch Landrieu, who resigned to become mayor of New Orleans.
Dardenne, a former state lawmaker from Baton Rouge, has raised the most money of the two candidates. This is Fayard’s first run for elected office, though her family has been active in Democratic politics for years.
Since he entered the race in February, Dardenne’s brought in $1.2 million for his lieutenant governor campaign, on top of the more than $256,000 he had on hand from fundraising as secretary of state.
Fayard has raised $706,000 since getting in the race in July and poured $440,000 of her own money into the campaign, to keep her on par with Dardenne.
The candidates continue to fundraise and have reported dozens of new contributions since the latest monthlong reporting period ended. The state Democratic Party has given Fayard $430,000 since the latest reporting period, mostly to buy advertising.
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Caroline Fayard outraises, outspends Jay Dardenne
October 25, 2010