U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp announced Sunday that he doubled his fundraising totals by raising over $1.31 million during the last half of 2009 for this year’s gubernatorial race.
Mr. Wamp’s total between the period of July 1 and Jan. 15 compares with $2.86 million raised by Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, $1.42 million raised by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, and $223,000 raised by Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons, his opponents in the Republican primary.
“I am very thankful for the support we’ve received from so many hard-working Tennesseans who have contributed so generously to our campaign all across the state,” Rep. Wamp said. “And I could not be more pleased that our momentum is just beginning to take off right when some of the other campaigns are starting to lag. We are clearly the campaign on the move. And we are going to win.”
Addressing other gubernatorial candidates, a statement from the campaign said that Rep. Wamp’s fundraising totals “do not include any transfers or roll-over funds from previous campaigns or campaign committees.”
With Sunday’s disclosure, Rep. Wamp’s overall fundraising total accumulates to about $2.57 million. That figure ranks behind totals from Mr. Haslam and Mr. Ramsey, $5.73 million and $2.75 million respectively. Mr. Gibbons trails all three candidates with a combined total of about $640,000.
Despite ranking third out of four major GOP candidates for governor, Rep. Wamp focused on other factors for winning the race to lead the state.
“We have the people and the momentum on our side, and it will be the people and their enthusiasm, not just the money, that will decide who will become the next governor of Tennessee,” he said.
On the moneyGubernatorial fundraising: July 1, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010:* Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam — $2.86 million* Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey — $1.42 million* U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp — $1.31 million* Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons — $223,000
Rep. Wamp said that doubling total campaign money is only “one part” of winning the election.
“I have now visited and campaigned in all 95 counties across our state, and voters are hungry for ideas to help get folks back to work and to get our economy moving again,” he said.
Rep. Wamp’s announcement comes one day before gubernatorial candidates must file their year-end supplemental reports with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, a state oversight agency.
As of press time, Democrats Jim Kyle, Kim McMillan and Mike McWherter had not released campaign fundraising figures for the latest period.