Rubio Sets Fundraising Bar
Ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) announced this afternoon that his campaign raised over $4.5M in the second quarter, a gangbuster haul that sets him up for what's sure to be an expensive general election.
That figure dwarfs Rep. Kendrick Meek's (D) $1M raised in the last 3 months. Gov. Charlie Crist (I) has not announced his own fundraising performance, his first since he switched parties in late April.
Rubio's camp claims that the $4.5M total is a record for a single quarter in FL, breaking a record previously held by Crist. A Rubio spokesperson refused to disclose how much Rubio would report in the bank.
Rubio had nearly $4M on hand at the end of the first quarter, and his camp has been relatively quiet since Crist's switch, airing no TV ads. Meek has about $4M in the bank, as of the end of the second quarter.
In a brief conversation with Hotline OnCall today, Rubio spokesperson Alex Burgos was quick to set expectations high in anticipation of Crist's money announcement.
"Given Crist's series of flip-flops and shifting positions," said Burgos. "It should come to no surprise that liberal special interests would adequately fund Crist's coffers."
Since his switch Crist has received the backing of several prominent Dems in FL and DC, including ex-DNC Finance Chair Nancy Jacobson. His shift to the left since becoming an independent has won him the backing of several labor unions, including the Florida Education Association and Florida Pipe Trades.
Crist has attempted to temper expectations in advance of his money announcement, pointing out that he no longer has the backing of a national party structure to boost his fundraising totals.