Cash on hand influences campaigns

Only one race for a seat representing Southwest Virginia in the General Assembly looks like it’s going to be competitive this year, according to a political expert who reviewed the most recent batch of campaign finance reports filed by the candidates seeking office in the Nov. 8 election.

Based on his analysis of the data, Kyle Kondik said the race pitting incumbent state Sen. Phil Puckett, D-Lebanon, against Republican Adam Light is the only one of the region’s four contested races in which the deck is not clearly stacked in one direction.

These two candidates are hoping to represent the 38^th District – which includes the city of Norton and the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Pulaski, Radford, Russell, Tazewell, along with parts of Smyth and Wise counties – in the 40-member state Senate.

“There are maybe 10 competitive races in the state Senate this year and the 38^th is one of them,” said Kondik, a political analyst with the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “This one could sort of go either way.”

According to campaign finance reports, Puckett’s campaign had $136,465 when his push for re-election entered its final six weeks Sept. 30. Light’s campaign had a $52,637 balance on Sept. 30, according to the reports, which the Virginia Board of Elections released last week.

 “What you want to have [in your campaign finance account] is enough money to execute whatever the final part of your game plan is,” Kondik said, adding that the reports show both candidates have the money needed to launch a final push before voters hit the polls next month.

He also said the growing sense of resentment many Southwest Virginia voters feel toward President Barack Obama and other Democrats in Congress further tilts the balance in Light’s favor – almost making up for the fact that his campaign reported having $80,000 less cash than Puckett’s.

But this hot race isn’t duplicated when it comes to the three other contested races, Kondik said. These races are for seats representing the 40^th District in the state Senate and the 3^rd and 5^th districts in the state House of Delegates.

In the 40^th District Senate race, Republican Bill Carrico had $91,800 in his campaign finance account on Sept. 30, while his opponent, Democrat John Lamie, reported having only $22,213 on hand. The seat is being vacated by current Sen. William Wampler, a Bristol Republican who’s retiring.

This district includes Bristol, Grayson County, Lee County, Scott County, Washington County, as well as parts of Smyth, Wise and Wythe counties.

Republican Israel O’Quinn, who is running for the 5^th District delegate seat, reported having $67,231, while his opponent, independent Michael Osborne, had no money in his campaign finance account. This seat is being vacated by Carrick, due to his Senate bid.

 Incumbent Delegate Will Moorefield, R-Tazewell, reported having $44,902 for his re-election bid for the 3^rd District seat, while his opponent Democrat Vern Presley had a $10,748 balance in his campaign account.

“It’s definitely an uphill battle for those guys in the House of Delegates,” Klondike said, adding that both Osborne and Presley will likely face a huge challenge trying to get their messages out to voters this late in the election season because they have so little money. “I don’t think any of those districts are going to be particularly competitive.”

gmclean@bristolnews.com

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