Rob Portman's Ohio Senate Fundraising Shocker

If money matters, then Ohio Republican Senate candidate Rob Portman is a very important man. Because he is telling supporters in an E-mail that he bested his likely Democratic foe by 50 percent in fundraising for the first quarter. All told, Portman, a former Ohio congressman and former President Bush's budget chief, has $3.2 million in the bank, a combination of $1.4 million left over from his House days and a whopping $1.7 million raised in the first quarter of the year. That's a big take, made more impressive when you consider that he is so far running unopposed in the primary and didn't even announce his candidacy until January 14. His toughest Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, raised more than $1 million in the first quarter. Fisher is being challenged by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Here's what Portman E-mailed to supporters:

Dear Friend,
I am truly humbled by your support for my campaign for the U.S. Senate. As a close supporter I want you to be one of the first to hear about our campaign's most recent success.

Today we announced our fundraising total of $3,178,476 for the first quarter 2009. This is an impressive achievement, especially given the tough economy we face here in Ohio and around the country. I am so grateful to you and so many others who are standing with me in this critical campaign.

During the first two months of the campaign we raised more than $1.7 million and transferred approximately $1.4 million from my Congressional campaign account, giving us a campaign war chest that exceeds $3 million.

This means that the Portman for Senate campaign has exceeded the amount Lt. Governor Lee Fisher raised from donors in the first quarter by over 50 percent and we have more than three times the amount of cash on hand. At this time, we cannot be certain w hat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has raised but we expect an even greater advantage over her campaign.

Our support came from every region of Ohio , and more than 78 percent of our donors were Ohioans. As impressive as our fundraising efforts have been, I have been even more humbled by the many Ohioans who have stepped forward to volunteer in the effort.

Since we announced this campaign on January 14, we've received the endorsements of an overwhelming majority of Republican activists, elected officials and key party leaders. From every corner of Ohio , thousands of you have come forward to join our campaign for a better future for our great state and country.

As I've traveled the state speaking at Lincoln Day Dinners and meeting with the working families and small business owners who are struggling in this economy, it is clear that Ohioans want a better way than the tax, spend and borrow policies of the Demo crats in Congress.

We offer a positive alternative that focuses on job creation and economic growth; with your help we're well on our way to having the resources to share that message in 2010.

Fundraising is an important barometer this early in a campaign. We could never have achieved this initial success without your hard work and the help of thousands of Ohioans. Thank you for all that you've done and will do for our campaign.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

All best,
Rob Portman

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