Democrats disclose gubernatorial cash

Democratic candidates show their cards for 2010 governors race

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

07-14-2009 3:18 PM — All gubernatorial campaigns have until the close of business Wednesday to make their disclosures, and with the Republicans showing their hand two weeks ago it is now the Democrats turn. The only exception to this rule is Democratic State Sen. Jim Kyle, who announced his candidacy after July 1.

Jackson businessman Mike McWherter and Dresden State Sen. Roy Herron are both hitting the $650k mark according to campaign staffers. Herron is touting over $100k raised online, but it will be interesting to see how much of the total has been transferred from his state senate campaign account. His campaign reports $603,903 in cash on hand.

McWherter will have gotten a big assist from his father, former Gov. Ned McWherter, who has been said to be tearing up the phone lines raising cash for his son.

Kim McMillan, a former state representative from Clarksville and Democratic leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives, is also reporting her campaign contributions. According to McMillan campaign staff, they have raised $300,000 and have $175,000 cash on hand. Those numbers reflect a $28,000 transfer from the Friends of Kim McMillan campaign account.

“We are pleased with this early show of support for Kim with more than a year until the Primary Election.  Since traveling the state and hearing from Tennesseans along the way, Kim assembled her finance staff in the last 30 days in addition to fulfilling her full-time responsibilities at Austin Peay State University,” said campaign spokesperson Wade Munday.  

She anticipates taking a full leave of absence in September.

Munday added that "the Women’s Campaign Forum Foundation, only 31% of women contributed in the 2008 cycle in all PAC and candidate reports.  So far, we have 45% contributions from women."

Nashville businessman Ward Cammack announced two weeks ago that his campaign had raised just over $200k.