Danny McAuliffe
Florida’s Republican and Democratic nominees for Governor are raking in money from across state lines and from various interests as they head into the home stretch of the election.
Republican candidate Ron DeSantis has raised through his campaign account more than $1 million since the week of the Aug. 28 primary, leaving him with nearly $2.4 million on hand. Friends of Ron DeSantis, the nominee’s PAC, has raised almost $3.9 million since the same date.
Laura Perlmutter, wife to businessman Isaac Perlmutter, accounted for a large share of DeSantis’ PAC numbers. She wrote a $1.5 million check to the PAC on Sept. 13. August Busch III, once chairman of Anheuser-Busch, has kicked in $200,000.
Democrat Andrew Gillum through the same period has amassed more than $3.4 million for his campaign. The Tallahassee Mayor’s PAC, Forward Florida, has reeled in more than $4.5 million. The bulk of that money stems from large contributions from the Democratic Governors Association ($2 million) and wealthy hedge fund manager Donald Sussman, who kicked in $1 million.
Harder to measure is money headed to organizations unaffiliated with each candidate.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that billionaire Tom Steyer would continue to put money behind Gillum. Steyer’s NextGen America PAC, which backed Gillum in the primary, should see approximately $5.2 million funneled its way for digital ads and voter-turnout efforts.
DeSantis is receiving hefty support from the Republican Governors Association. POLITICO Florida reported on Tuesday that the RGA has so far sent $4.8 million to Florida Facts, a PAC running attack ads on Gillum.
Polls have consistently shown Gillum ahead of DeSantis.
Earlier on Tuesday, an NBC and Marist College survey put Gillum up 5 points on DeSantis, a lead just outside the 4.7 percent margin of error.
A Rasmussen poll released last week gave the Tallahassee mayor a 6 percent edge on DeSantis, Gillum’s biggest yet. Another poll from Florida Atlantic University released last week had the race much closer, with Gillum up just 2 points on DeSantis. On Monday, the results of a University of North Florida survey had Gillum up 4 percent.
