NH SEN: Hodes Leads Pack in 4thQ Fundraising
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-02) announced he has raised $701K+ in 4thQ '09 and has $1.43M CoH. Hodes has raised over $2.3M during his SEN run.
Meanwhile, ex-AG Kelly Ayotte's (R) camp today reported raising over $630K in 4thQ '09 and ending the year with $996K CoH. Ayotte has raised $1.24M during her run.
Earlier this week, businessman Jim Bender (R) announced he had raised $602K in the 4thQ. However, $500K of that sum was a personal loan. Bender reported $545K CoH. Businessman Bill Binnie (R) announced earlier this month that his camp raised $247K in 4thQ of '09, loaning his camp $1.26M and rounding out the year with 1.18M CoH.
Without any serious Dem competition, Hodes has been able to solidify his frontrunner position. Yet he still runs behind Ayotte. An American Research Group poll released Dec. 31 showed Ayotte leading Hodes 43-36% in a general election matchup.
Ayotte has staked out her position as the GOP frontrunner in the race. However, her primary rivals may be able to eat into her lead; Both Binnie and Bender also have the capacity to pour their own money into their camps, should they need to. Binnie has already gone up with TV ads, and Bender has announced he will follow suit, and go up on TV the week of Feb. 2.