Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican, is catching up to Democratic candidate Timothy M. Kaine in filling his war chest, according to campaign finance reports released yesterday.
The latest fundraising reports, which span June 2 to June 30, show Mr. Kilgore raised $2.11 million, bringing his overall fundraising total to an estimated $10.8 million. The former state attorney general spent $740,000 during the period and had $4.6 million cash on hand as of June 30.
Mr. Kaine raised $1.03 million during that period, bringing his fundraising total to an estimated $11.1 million. The lieutenant governor spent $1.13 million during the period and had $5.1 million cash on hand as of June 30.
Mr. Kaine had held the lead in fundraising all year, partly because of a $1.5 million donation from the Democratic National Committee.
Mr. Kilgore has the support of the Republican Governors Association, which is raising money for his campaign and paying to air television ads on his behalf.
Fundraising numbers for H. Russell Potts Jr., the Republican state senator from Winchester who is running as an independent, will be made available tomorrow.
With nearly $22 million in the coffers for the two major-party candidates, this year’s gubernatorial race is on track to exceed the 2001 race in fundraising and spending.
The race between Democrat Mark Warner and former state Attorney General Mark L. Earley, a Republican, cost more than $30 million.
Mr. Warner, a telecommunications mogul, spent almost $20 million, including $4.7 million of his own money, to win the governor’s race, shattering gubernatorial fundraising records in Virginia. Mr. Earley raised about $11.5 million.
President Bush is slated to host a fundraiser for Mr. Kilgore next Thursday at a residence in McLean.
Invitations promise a “very intimate” evening and a sit-down dinner with the president. Space for the dinner is limited, suggesting it will raise a hefty sum for Mr. Kilgore.
Both campaigns said the numbers show wide support for their candidate.
“This is just proving that the momentum is with Jerry Kilgore,” said campaign spokesman Tucker Martin.
“We are encouraged by the broad and diverse support that our fundraising success indicates,” Kaine campaign manager Mike Henry said in a statement.
The Kaine campaign noted that 1,562 of its 1,605 donors were Virginians, and that 822 of them were new donors.
Such figures for the Kilgore campaign were not available.
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