Curd beating Nelson in the money race

Republican U.S. House candidate Blake Curd is out-fundraising his opponent, Chris Nelson, according to reports made available recently.

Curd’s year-end report to the Federal Election Commission had not yet been published on the Internet as of this afternoon, but he announced in a news release that he had raised $181,381.60 through Dec. 31. He spent $18,048.47, leaving $163,333.13 on hand.

Nelson’s fundraising report is available on the FEC Web site. It says Nelson raised $56,239, spent $18,172 and had $38,066 on hand through Dec. 31.

Curd, a doctor from Sioux Falls, and Nelson, a Pierre resident and South Dakota’s secretary of state, will face each other in the June 8 primary election. The winner will take on U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., in the Nov. 2 general election.

Herseth Sandlin’s year-end fundraising report had not been released as of this afternoon. An earlier report said she raised nearly $300,000 through the first nine months of 2009 and had $226,582 on hand.

Curd issued the following news release today:

Blake Curd Raises $181,381 in 4th Quarter

Curd Out-Raises Herseth Sandlin’s Previous Quarter Total

SIOUX FALLS – Blake Curd, candidate for the South Dakota At-Large congressional seat in 2010, announced today that his campaign raised $181,381 in the period ending December 31, 2009. This report, from the campaign’s beginning in early October to the end of the year, is the first financial report Curd will file with the Federal Elections Commission.

Curd, a Sioux Falls doctor and veteran of the US Air Force, raised $54,184 more than current Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, first elected nearly six years ago, did in the 3rd quarter of 2009. Herseth Sandlin raised $127,197 in that period.

Notably, 92% of Curd’s campaign contributions came from individuals, while Herseth Sandlin reports only 53% of her contributions from her most recent report were from individuals. 47% of contributions to Herseth Sandlin in the 3rd quarter of 2009 were from special interest committees and PACs.

“These fundraising numbers are an indicator of the support our campaign is receiving from individuals and families throughout South Dakota. They want real representation, real listening and real solutions, not political pandering and posturing,” said Curd. “They are ready for a new member of Congress to represent them.”

Posted by: Seth Tupper on 1/25/2010 at 3:03 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink

Tags: blake curd, chris nelson, congress, election 2010, news, politics, state, stephanie herseth sandlin