Campaign finance reports released for Snyder, Bernero

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Gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder will continue to spend as much money as necessary for his campaign, said spokesman Bill Nowling after a report was issued showing how much money each gubenatorial candidate spent on their campaigns through Aug. 26.

Snyder outspent Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero sevenfold before the Aug. 3 primary election, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State Thursday.

Bernero’s spokesman Cullen Schawrz said the Lansing mayor will continue to garner support from grassroots organizations for campaign donations.

Including about $6 million from his own pocket, Snyder raised more than $8 million. He spent about $7.5 million.

Bernero raised about $1.15 million and spent about $1 million.

Snyder will continue to spend as much money as is necessary, but is not counting on it to win the election, Nowling said.

“The race is really going to come down to ideas and who has the best ideas to reinvent Michigan and who has a plan,” Nowling said. That’s what voters want to hear and that’s certainly what (Snyder) is talking about. Although money helped Snyder increase his name recognition, several other factors allowed Snyder to win the primary and become a player in the race against Bernero, said Matt Grossman, an MSU assistant professor of political science.

“Hoekstra and Cox both thought each other (was) their primary opponent, so everyone spent money attacking each other,” Grossman said. “(Snyder) basically emerged from the primary unscathed and built up a positive image for himself.”

On the Democratic side of the primary campaign, Bernero’s slim pocketbook was shored up by a $2.25 million pro-Bernero, anti-Dillon advertising campaign by the Genessee County Democratic Committee, or GCDC.

Since the GCDC is an independent organization, Bernero has no way of knowing how financial support he will receive, Schwartz said.

“That group is a totally independent organization and is not affiliated with our
campaign in any way, so I’d have no way of knowing what their plans are for the fall,” Schwarz said.

Bernero is counting on raising money “the old-fashioned way,” Schwarz said. “Fundraising is going extremely well and has continually improved since (Bernero) won the primary,” Schwarz said. “Grassroots supporters and going to be what wins out over Snyder’s millions.”
The other five candidates also filed a campaign finance report.

Although he came in third for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox spent the next greatest sum among the candidates, nearly $3.3 million.

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, who came in second, spent about $1.75 million. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard spent about $2.2 million, and state Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, spent about $400,000.

Bernero’s Democratic competitor, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Andy Dillon, D-Redford, spent about $1.7 million.

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