With less than two months remaining, the 2001 Virginia race for governor has turned into a heated battle for campaign contributions between the Republican candidate, Virginia Attorney General Mark L. Earley, and the Democratic candidate, Mark Warner.
Statistics released by the Virginia Public Access Project indicated that Warner, with $10.3 million, substantially led Earley, with $5.8 million, in total reported donations. Libertarian candidate William Redpath trailed with $15,688. The organization tracked all donations greater than $100 through Aug. 31.
Despite Warner having raised nearly twice as much as his opponent, the Earley campaign was not discouraged by the numbers.
"The momentum is with us now," Earley spokeswoman Yooree Oh said.
Oh said three recent tracking polls showed Earley making considerable gains toward Warner in the public's opinion, having closed Warner's lead to a single-digit percentage.
Officials from Warner's campaign could not be reached for comment.
Larry J. Sabato, government and foreign affairs professor, said Warner's financial advantage hardly secures his win.
"Money is not the alpha and omega of politics," Sabato said. "It helps Warner, but does not guarantee him a victory."
Yet for Earley, the campaign remains an uphill battle, especially in the Charlottesville area.
"Charlottesville City is overwhelmingly Democratic," Sabato said.
In the Charlottesville/Albemarle area Warner has received a reported $194,762 in donations compared with Earley's $62,240.
Among the University community, the race pivots on one crucial issue: the budget impasse, said James B. Murray, Warner's biggest financial contributor in the area.
"The U.Va. budget has become increasingly restricted as state support over the last decade, once over 50 percent, is now down to 15 percent," Murray said. "Mark Warner is the only candidate of the two to have a concrete plan to rebuild state support for higher education."
Oh agreed that the budget impasse was a critical issue, stating that "during the budget impasse Mark Earley came out urging the governor and members of the General Assembly to agree on budget amendments."
As a result of the impasse, the state froze funding, in effect halting many projects at colleges and universities throughout Virginia.
"Mark Earley would be very good to the University," said William G. Crutchfield, Earley's top financial backer in Charlottesville and a member of the University's Board of Visitors.
The contest between Warner and Earley promises to be the most expensive gubernatorial race in Virginia history, surpassing the $19 million donation record set in the 1997 race between Gov. James S. Gilmore III and his Democratic opponent, Don Beyer.
One of the principal reasons for the large sums of money being generated is Warner's independent wealth, Sabato said.
Warner has reportedly given $810,594 of his own money to the Warner for Governor group, while Earley has given $200 to his group, Earley for Governor.
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