Your morning jolt: Thubert Baker unveils $704k raised
Attorney General Thurbert Baker may have rewritten the dynamics of the Democratic race for governor with a strong six-month financial statement filed late Tuesday.
Baker reported $704,331 raised in the last period, far more than two of the stronger Republican candidates. He’s reporting $591,220 in cash on hand.
A quick glance at his disclosure shows that Baker received 45 checks for the maximum allowable donation of $6,100 — nearly 40 percent of his total. Many of the checks were from out-of-state, no doubt the result of relationships Baker built as the 2006 president of the National Association of Attorneys General.
For those who said Baker would lack appeal among Georgia’s black political elite, the attorney general is displaying checks written by:
— U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson;
— DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis;
— DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown;
— Milton Jones, president of 100 Black Men of Atlanta;
— Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television and owner of the Charlotte Bobcats;
— Joseph Roberts, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta;
— and contractor Herman Russell.
One caveat on Baker’s disclosure: A quick hand count indicates that 36 percent of his contribution entries, totaling $255,531, are dated after the June 30 deadline. That includes 26 of those maxed-out checks for $6,100. On the face of things, a little balloon work is going on here.
The basic info for DuBose Porter of Dublin, the House Democratic leader, is as follows: $231,250 raised; $6,181 spent; and $225,068 in cash on hand. No personal loans.
Porter’s disclosure shows few maximum contributions, but include $1,000 from Mark Dehler of Young Harris, husband of 2006 Democratic candidate for governor Cathy Cox, and $3,000 from John Mellott, former publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
David Poythress, the former head of the Georgia National Guard, reported $156,462 raised, and $264,099 in cash on hand. But Poythress also reports a campaign debt of $173,000.
Roy Barnes did not file. He’s got no campaign — yet.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal is in a slightly stronger position than reported Tuesday. Deal raised $980,000 in the period, more than any other GOP candidate for governor. But he stacked on top of that a personal loan of $250,000, giving him $1,149,847 in cash on hand — more than state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.
The big question in many political campaigns, of course, is whether the candidate will actually spend money from personal loans, or whether it’s just for show.
While you ponder the above, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:
Officially, Atlanta traffic is not so congested anymore. Hatch calls for U.S. Justice Department investigation into BCS. Obama taps Atlanta fire-rescue chief for Homeland Security post. Eric Johnson second in campaign cash race. Reed raises most cash in latest stretch of the cash race for mayor of Atlanta, but the field is relatively level. Natural gas rates lowest in years. State school board may toss altered tests. Bright spots seen in individual school CRCT results. Atlanta police turn over shooting files. Georgia soldier could get death penalty. Cynthia McKinney back in the U.S.
Some opinion:
Your Luckovich fix. Cynthia Tucker welcomes Sarah Palin to the club for parents of wronged children. Kathie McClure says the ground is shifting on the health debate.
From elsewhere in Georgia:
ABC: Facebook’s users are getting older and grayer, while fewer kids are using the social site.
And beyond:
WSJ: An uphill fight for the right to carry guns on campus. NYT: Is North Korea behind cyberattacks on U.S. and South Korean web sites. WP: White House nervous as power of stimulus slow to take hold.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
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14 comments Add your comment
Will Jones - Atlanta
July 8th, 2009
9:46 am
Georgia, Let’s elect Max Cleland as Governor! He has proven his integrity and that is all we need, not campaign “contributors” bribing their way into profitability on the People’s dime. Max placed himself squarely in the side of Righteousness when he quit the 9/11 Commission’s cover-up of Bush’s and Cheney’s treason. There is no more important issue facing Georgia, America, and President Obama.
Let’s put Georgia back in the lead of America! Let’s make Max Cleland, a genuine American Hero, Our Governor!
AH
July 8th, 2009
10:49 am
So Baker gets money from out of state folks he meet through his official position and he is lauded as building good relations. Oxendine does the same thing and it is ruled unethical. Seems like we need to hold both of these people to the same standard.
Keith
July 8th, 2009
11:29 am
Max Cleland… OMG! ROFLOL! Hilarious!!! GI Max… a real American hero??? LOL!!!!!
alan
July 8th, 2009
12:04 pm
It doesn’t matter where the money comes from whether out of state or in state, it still counts. Baker is going to be a major factor in the Governor’s race. So much for dropping to Lt. Governor.
Garry
July 8th, 2009
12:38 pm
Poythress has been out campaigning for months, in far north Georgia, in far south Georgia… places that haven’t seen a Democrat in years.
Baker hasn’t been anywhere and from looking at his report has nothing but finance staff.
Porter has been a couple of places but from looking at his report has no staff either.
Money isn’t everything. Votes matter more.
Poythress 2010!
simple
July 8th, 2009
12:45 pm
Hey Keith… when was the last time your limbs were blown off while you were defending your country? I love conservatives… they all demand that we support our troops… unless they disagree with said troop’s politics. So typical. So hypocritical.
Raquel
July 8th, 2009
1:24 pm
Dear Thurbert Baker,
Excellent job on the fundraising. Why not take that money and run for Lt. Governor or U.S. Senate?
Will Jones - Atlanta
July 8th, 2009
3:17 pm
Name-thief you are a liar and accursed.
will jones aka Astroboy
July 8th, 2009
3:44 pm
“Georgia, Let’s elect Max Cleland as Governor! He has proven his integrity and that is all we need, not campaign “contributors” bribing their way into profitability on the People’s dime. Max placed himself squarely in the side of Righteousness when he quit the 9/11 Commission’s cover-up of Bush’s and Cheney’s treason. There is no more important issue facing Georgia, America, and President Obama.
Let’s put Georgia back in the lead of America! Let’s make Max Cleland, a genuine American Hero, Our Governor!”
Why should anyone who votes make cleland a hero? How did he prove his integrity? I vaguely remember him as SoS, and he didn’t do anything. Are you related to max cleland? Do you have a financial interest in him becoming governor?
Baker over-reports by $274k — Peach Pundit
July 8th, 2009
10:16 pm
[...] This was noted by the AJC this [...]
SWGA Politics » Blog Archive » Thurbert Baker Caught Cheating
July 8th, 2009
10:32 pm
[...] Per Jim Galloway over at the AJC, more than half of the checks Baker received for the max donation occurred during this period (26 of 45, or $158,600 right there). [...]
C'mon Bob
July 8th, 2009
11:57 pm
Thurbert Baker should have investigated DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown, who’s home went from No. 16 on the county flood plain buyout list to No. 1 with no explanation, and no written records (?). Brown’s home was paid for and demolished in record time.
Oh yeah, I forgot, Thurbert Baker never investigated any elected official, especially one from his own county. If he did, he would have had to spend a few years just on Vernon Jones.
The Snark
July 9th, 2009
7:48 am
“C’mon Bob”:
Like most of the people who spew their opinions on this page, you don’t know a damn thing about what you purport to talk about. The state attorney general only investigates allegations against state officials, and yes, Baker has put away quite a few of them (Democrat and Republican) over the last twelve years. (Read the papers much, do we, C’mon Bob?) Allegations against county officials are investigated by the county district attorney and grand jury (remember the DeKalb County DA’s investigations into Jones, do you, C’mon Bob?)
But hey, don’t let that change your opinion!
Name One
July 9th, 2009
5:43 pm
OK Snark, name the convictions of state officials by Thurbert Baker. It’s a pretty short list.