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Analysis: Where Beth Macy, Ben Cline are spending their campaign dollars
Usually, when us politics writers analyze campaign finance reports in a political race, we focus on where the money is coming from, but I wanted to do something different with the most recent data from the Ben Cline-Beth Macy race in the Sixth District, to look at what the money is being spent on.
I’m sure where this will make me plenty of friends in the campaign offices.
Macy is a Democratic Party challenger in what is listed as a Safe Republican district by anybody and everybody, and she’s far outpacing the incumbent in both fundraising and campaign spending.
This is a lot less than I’d expected. Small staffs, managing a lot of things at once.
Total fundraising consulting costs: $106,442.37
Total political consulting costs: $445,387.17
Total fundraising consulting costs: $369,452.20
Total political consulting costs: $194,404.84
Cline is spending 19.8 cents on the dollar just to raise the dollar. That seems high, particularly compared to the 4 cents on the dollar that the Macy campaign is spending to raise the dollar.
Overall, the two campaigns are almost dollar-for-dollar in total fundraising, with the Cline campaign more focused on raising the money, and the Macy campaign focused on seeking advice on how to spend its money.
The Cline campaign pushed a total of $209,000 out the door in the form of contributions to:
Wonder, given how he’s trailing in the fundraising game right now, if the campaign might wish it hadn’t sent that money out the door.
Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected]. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.
Albemarle County Police are searching for a man who fled after a police pursuit in the Scottsville Drive area early Sunday morning.
So, Virginia lost by 10 points, 23-13, let’s do some quick math regarding two key plays, which, not much has to happen, and it’s a very different ballgame.
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