Welch campaign raises $270,000
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By Darren M. Allen Vermont Press Bureau - Published: October 14, 2005
MONTPELIER — Senate President Pro Tem Peter Welch has raised more than $270,000 in the three months since he announced his bid for Congress, campaign finance records show.
Welch, a Windsor Democrat who officially declared he was running to replace U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., in June, raised most of that money from individual Vermonters, according to his first campaign finance report, filed Thursday.
But it wasn't just Vermonters who dropped dollars into Welch's campaign treasury. Washington-based political action committees — and even the aborted Matt Dunne for Congress campaign — contributed a total of $21,250.
If political observers, and potential voters, needed any convincing that Welch is a serious contender in next year's election, this financing report provided a decisive answer, according to one political scientist.
"You raise a lot of money early for two reasons," said Eric Davis, a political science professor at Middlebury College. "To make sure no one runs against you in a primary and to send a message."
Welch's likely primary opponent, former Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, dropped out of contention recently.
Another potential Democratic challenger, one-time Howard Dean aide, Zephyr Teachout, has not decided whether to mount a run, although observers, such as Davis, put the likelihood of her entering the race at doubtful.
Welch has no officially declared Republican challenger yet for a seat being vacated by Sanders so that he can run for the Senate seat that will open up when Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., retires from politics.
However, Martha Rainville, a Republican and adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard, has formed an exploratory committee and hired a campaign spokesman.
Rainville has not officially entered the race yet, although she is expected to file her own campaign finance report today.
"It will be a very, very small number," said Nathan Rice, her campaign spokesman. She only opened up her exploratory committee a few days before the current reporting period ended last month.
Welch's campaign attracted a wide variety of support from state and national Democrats.
State Sen. Edward Flanagan, D-Chittenden, gave his fellow senator $2,000; Sen. Hinda Miller, D-Chittenden, contributed $350; and Dunne's aborted House campaign gave $2,000.
The candidate also garnered support from Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader of the U.S. House, as well as Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois Democrat who is chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The early money lead does not necessarily mean that Welch will have to look increasingly outside of Vermont for his contributions, according to Carolyn Dwyer, his campaign manager.
"We pulled in some early major supporters, but we plan to run a grassroots campaign," she said. "Vermonters understand how important this race is, and are lining up early to back a candidate they know can win in 2006."
Republicans don't share that view.
"Peter Welch is a professional politician who has run for statewide office twice already," said James Barnett, the chairman of the state Republican Party. "And even though the voters rejected him each time and even though nearly two decades have passed, he'll still come into this race with substantial advantages."
Another candidate in the next election cycle who will enter with substantial advantages is Sanders, one of the most popular politicians in the state.
Sanders is expected to file his most recent campaign finance reports today. It is widely believed that those reports will show him with more than $1 million on hand after a brisk three-month fundraising period.
Davis said that it is likely that Sanders will probably end up raising and spending in the neighborhood of $5 million on his campaign, an amount expected to be matched by whoever ends up being his opponent.
Republican Richard Tarrant, founder of health care software giant IDX Systems Corp., has already contributed more than $500,000 to his own exploratory committee.
And Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, the Republican incumbent, also has announced that he is interested in running for the Senate.
Contact Darren Allen at darren.allen@rutlandherald.com
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