Scott, Crist Keep The Campaign Cash Flowing

State Rep. Crisafulli Raises Over $25,000 in May

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — The arms race continues between Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Crist, trying to win back the governor’s mansion as a Democrat after a mid-life political conversion, raised more than $2 million in cash in May for his campaign and a closely aligned political committee, newly filed records show.

Scott, trying to win a second term and keep Republicans in total control of state government, brought in about $1.16 million in cash for his campaign and the sister “Let’s Get to Work” committee. But the state Republican Party, which is expected to play a huge role in Scott’s campaign, said it collected $3.54 million during the month.

The money will help fuel what is expected to be an expensive — and nasty — race filled with negative ads. As a sign of what’s to come, the Let’s Get to Work committee reported spending about $3.1 million on advertising in May, after spending about $5.1 million on ads in April.

• Scott’s campaign reported raising $1,116,038 in May, bringing the overall total to nearly $4.7 million. The campaign had also received about $1.5 million in in-kind contributions through May, with the state party covering expenses such as staff and consulting. Let’s Get to Work reported raising an overall total of slightly less than $28.1 million through May, though it also has spent about $12.9 million. The committee has dramatically ratcheted back its fund-raising during the past two months, collecting $46,100 in May and $257,000 in April. B

• Crist’s campaign reported raising $410,787 in cash in May, bringing its overall total to nearly $3.7 million. Also, the committee has collected a total of $836,310 in in-kind contributions. Meanwhile, the committee, known as “Charlie Crist for Florida,” collected $1,627,500 in cash during the month, bringing its total to $8,234,580, records show.

While Crist and Scott continued to rake in money in May, many lawmakers appeared to have a light fund-raising month. 

Among the exceptions was Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, a Ponte Vedra Beach Republican who raised $28,800 for his re-election bid in St. Johns County’s House District 17. Similarly, Rep. Steve Crisafulli, a Merritt Island Republican who is slated to become House speaker in November, raised $25,525 during the month, bringing his overall total to $416,668.

Other top legislative fund-raisers for the month included newcomers seeking open seats. For instance, Jacksonville Republican Paul Renner reported raising $22,245 in May and an overall total of $178,795 as he tries to succeed Rep. Daniel Davis, who is not seeking re-election in House District 15. An updated report for Renner’s opponent, Jacksonville Republican Jay Fant, had not been posted online late Tuesdayafternoon.

Meanwhile, Lakeland Republican John Hugh Shannon reported raising $22,010 in May for his bid to replace term-limited Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, in House District 40. Another Republican in the race, Colleen Burton, raised $7,850 in May but had an overall total of $106,100. Shannon, who got into the race after Burton, reported an overall total of $79,435.

Similar Stories