Gabrieli breaks $pend record in gov race (Boston Herald)

Boston Herald article regarding candidate spending. Contrasts the moneyed candidates verses the true grassroots candidate, Grace Ross.

Original article can be found here: http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolitics/view.bg?articleid=152692

By Kimberly Atkins

Created by colby_peterson. Last modified on 2006-08-14 14:46:55

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Chris Gabrieli spent more than $5.2 million in his bid to win September’s primary - more than any other campaign before August of an election year in state history.

What’s more, Gabrieli is poised to set a record in another category: the most personal cash expended in a governor’s race. Right now the record is held by Gov. Mitt Romney, who dropped a total of $6.3 million of his own personal cash in his campaign.

So far, Gabrieli has put more than $5.3 million of his own money into his campaign finance account, meaning he could surpass Romney’s record before the primary.

“Chris believes deeply that we need to change the direction of this state, and he’s willing to put his money where his mouth is,” said Gabrieli spokesman Joe Ganley.

Gabrieli set the spending cap for all Democratic candidates at $15.36 million - a move he said was a joke referring to the percentage of the state convention delegation’s votes he garnered.

But by the end of July, he was already a third of the way to the limit.

“Kerry Healey says she’s got $15 million to spend on TV, she’s already on the air desperately attacking,” Ganley explained.

“We’re going to spend what it takes to beat Kerry Healey and win this race.”

Gabrieli is in a hotly contested three-way battle in the Democratic primary, yet the second largest spender in the governor’s race is Healey, the Republican who is unopposed in September.

As of the end of last month, Healey has spent $3 million this year from her campaign account - which includes $2 million of her own money.

“It’s a fraction of what our opponents would spend if they get in the Corner Office,” said Healey spokesman Tim O’Brien, who took particular aim at Gabrieli.

“No one should be surprised he’s outspending every other candidate - he’d do the same thing as governor.”

Deval Patrick managed to spend more than $1.6 million this year as of the close of last month’s books without yet making any media buys for television ads.

But spokesman Richard Chacon explained that running a grassroots-focused campaign still isn’t cheap.

“Others choose to concentrate millions of dollars on TV ads and we’ll soon bring our own message to the airwaves but our priority has been - and continues to be - reaching out directly to people,” Chacon said.

Attorney General Tom Reilly is the third-biggest spender so far, throwing just under $2.7 million in campaign finance funds into his bid.

Independent candidate Christy Mihos’ campaign has spent $1.2 million, $1 million of which came from his own personal funds.

Green-Rainbow Party candidate Grace Ross has spent the least at $4,500 - none from her own pocket.