NC-02: Money is talking in GOP US House primary race
And it is not saying very nice things about Frank Roche. Judging from what we found on the FEC web site, the Cary Republican appears to be
repeating his dismal fundraising performance from his 2014 run against incumbent Renee Ellmers.
The incumbent, Ellmers, is showing in her April 2015 quarterly report (1/1 -3/31):
- total receipts: $195,644
- total expenditures: $127,458
- cash on hand: $220,351
Roche, for his July 2015 (1/1 to 6/30) quarterly, is showing:
- total receipts: $12,792
- total expenditures: $9420
- cash on hand: $3372
That’s quite a bit of difference there. Let’s compare Roche in 2015 with his 2014 campaign performance:
- By this time in 2014, he had raised and spent a total of $55,499.
- As of Year end 2013(10/1-12/31) :
- total receipts: $2695
- total expenditures: $936
- cash on hand: $1758
- April 2014 quarterly (1/1 to 3/31):
- total receipts: $17551
- total expenditures: $10467
- cash on hand: $8842
- Pre-primary 2014 (4/1 to 4/16):
- total receipts: $3310
- total expenditures: $1919
- cash on hand: $10233
2014’s primary ended with a 59-41 Ellmers victory over Roche.
This year, there is a third party in the primary contest that could make things interesting; former Chatham County GOP chairman Jim Duncan. The FEC web site does not have any financials posted on Duncan yet. But, a source, close to the Duncan campaign, tells me it will show fundraising totals much closer to Ellmers than Roche.
Short of something stupid / scandalous happening (i.e., Funderburk in 1996 and Etheridge in 2010), the candidate with the most cash tends to carry the day.
Thanks for posting this.
Now that I know, I will send $ to anyone primarying Ellmers.
She has not represented her constituents and cares not a whit.
Dear Guest, Looking for someone to support? Please visit http://www.jimfornc.com
Roche has potential to be nothing but a spoiler in the NC-2 primary since there is no need for an actual majority to win. He can surely find another race with an incumbent who needs a primary. If nobody else gets in the US Senate race, then he would have a better chance there than NC-2. Holding might be a good one to run against.
Roche helps nobody but Ellmers and Boehner by staying in the NC-2 race.
You say, “But, a source, close to the Duncan campaign, tells me it will show fundraising totals much closer to Ellmers than Roche.” In addition, I’ve heard that Jim Duncan is building a great grassroots campaign!
Follow the money…….guess who is a huge supporter of the establishment. You think Duncan will be different than Ellmers? Ha, he is big buddies with the moderate republicans. Same R as Renee. Take a look at Duncan’s website. Nothing about illegals, same old “I believe this” “I believe that” but no substance. Smoke and mirrors. There is a reason his supporters voted Renee last election………they are all establishment. Grassroots are tired of the moderates.
Nonsense. Duncan is very tight with Heritage Action, a group that gives the establishment heartburn, and I fully expect he will get an endorsement from the Club of Growth, another group that gives the establishment heartburn.
I don’t know if you are trolling for Ellmers or Roche, but Roche is just a spolier and needs to find another race. Maybe a legislative seat, as there are enough Obama Republicans there who need to be challenged in the primary.
We need a fighter on our side on the issue of the Confederate Flag!
District 2 constituents need a candidate who listens to us and goes to Washington to carry out our wishes with conservative values on every issue. The incumbent has failed miserably and must be sent home in ’16!. http://www.jimfornc.com is the website for Duncan – send what you can and meet him when you can. He’s the man for NC2!
I know Jim Duncan personally as a person and an activist and he comes with the highest of character and integrity and as for conservative values– He lives them! The spoiler here is Roche who just keeps coming back like a bad penny. If you want to donate to a fine candidate who lives and breathes true conservatism, donate to Jim Duncan. And yes, he is a Heritage Action Sentinel like myself and has been since the beginning of the program.