Treasurer’s Race: Who Took the Most Out of State Money?

Treasurer’s Race: Who Took the Most Out of State Money?

Republican General Treasurer candidate Kerry King has criticized Democrat Gina Raimondo for receiving about 40 percent of her money from outside of Rhode Island, but it turns out that he is even more dependent on out-of-state dollars, according to data GoLocalProv compiled from their second quarter finance reports.

In the second quarter of 2010, Raimondo hauled in $208,037 from individuals, with just $7,425 coming from PACs. Of all her contributions, 37.6 percent were from out of state. King, on the other hand, garnered $15,600 from individuals only, with 42.6 percent of them hailing from other states.

Three of his out-of-state donors are from Florida, two are from Connecticut, and the rest are from Virginia, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Raimondo’s out-of-state contributors are largely concentrated in Massachusetts (98 donors) and New York (39 donors).

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An expert in local politics told GoLocalProv that out-of-state money in of itself does not affect how voters view candidates. “I don’t think voters care about out-of-state money,” said Darrell West, a former Brown University political science professor who is now a vice president at the Brookings Institution. “They know Rhode Island is small. Most of our races in recent years have had significant contributions from out of state.”

Earlier this week, King blasted Raimondo for going outside the state to raise money.

“About 40 percent of her donations have come from out-of-town Wall Street types, out-of-state individuals and left-wing political organizations like the pro-abortion group, EMILY’s list,” King said. “Why are the Wall Street money barons who helped create the Great Depression supporting a local candidate for a state office? Are there outside forces trying to help Ms. Raimondo buy the Treasurer’s office? I think Ms. Raimondo owes taxpayers an explanation.”

Raimondo campaign manager Joe Shekarchi disputed the 40 percent figure, but King campaign manager Vic Pichette said it was based on the first quarter, not the second.

Shekarchi said Raimondo actually had more support from Rhode Islanders than King did.

“We are proud that we have over 800 Rhode Islanders supporting the Gina Raimondo campaign as opposed to 21 for King because his old tired campaign rhetoric does not work anymore,” said Shekarchi, referring to the total number of donors since the campaign began. “He has not said any positive thing that he would do for Rhode Island as Treasurer. It’s clear when you’re behind you say negative things.”

Pro-Choice Group Gave to Raimondo

The bigger issue, according to West, is not what state the money is coming from but who is giving it. “I think people worry more if the money is coming from financial services or industries that have an ax to grind in the campaign,” West said.

Pichette essentially agreed, saying that King’s criticisms had focused less on the fact that Raimondo had out of state money, than the specific sources of that money.

King took particular umbrage over the fact that EMILY’s List, a national group which supports pro-choice women running for office, had given money to Raimondo.

“My opponent, Gina Raimondo, who claims to be a Catholic and was married at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence, Rhode Island, has shamefully accepted the endorsement and money from one of the largest national pro-abortion groups, EMILY’s List,” King said.

Raimondo received $1,000 from EMILY’s List in 2009 and another $1,000 this year, according to her campaign finance reports. “EMILY’s List supports women candidates all over the country,” Shekarchi told GoLocalProv. “We’re proud of that endorsement.”

Shekarchi found it bizarre that King was making an issue out of abortion in the race for treasurer. “It’s not a General Treasurer issue. We have no say over the pro-life, pro-choice issue. The Treasurer is a professional investor job. Gina is a professional investor,” Shekarchi said.

In a way, Pichette said that was the whole point. He said King was concerned that a pro-choice group had gotten involved in the race. “Why would these people have anything to do with the Treasurer’s job in Rhode Island? That’s our concern,” Pichette said.

King, who has been endorsed by the Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee, said he was joining Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin in urging voters to support pro-life candidates.