July 13, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

Bill Ritter Raises $164,000

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• by: Colorado Pols

Democrat Bill Ritter announced today that his campaign raised $164,383 in Q2, which is a significant amount and is an early blow to the campaign of Rutt Bridges.

Bridges announced today that he had raised $131,000, and Ritter’s filing will give his campaign a big boost. Bridges is still the favorite for the Democratic nomination, and as we pointed out earlier, he doesn’t have the same fundraising needs that Ritter has. But in the battle of perception, Ritter has clearly taken this round.

Ritter can now tell prospective donors that he outraised the wealthier, and presumably better-connected, Rutt Bridges, and don’t think that that statement won’t help him to raise more money. But the bigger picture here is this: had Bridges stayed above Ritter in fundraising, he could have kept the former Denver DA well below him in terms of perception. He’s now allowed Ritter to crawl back up. In politics, you have to get your opponent down and keep him down. Bridges isn’t doing that.

Bridges’ campaign will point out that Ritter had a two-week head start in fundraising, but so what? Both candidates had been essentially running for governor for months, and the first fundraising effort picks up the “low hanging fruit” for each candidate. Ritter clearly outworked and outmaneuvered Bridges’ campaign on this one.

Click below to read Ritter’s press release statements…

“I have been talking to Coloradoans who want to move our state forward. My background, experience and commitment uniquely prepare me to lead our state and address the challenges and opportunities we face for our future,” said Ritter.  “Through these conversations, I have gained insight and support. While my campaign is just beginning, there is strong momentum.”

The former Denver District Attorney, Ritter said, “As Governor of Colorado I would work every day to ensure that we leave Colorado a better place than we found it. My track record shows I can succeed at that. My life has been dedicated to serving people from my work building hope in rural Africa to protecting our citizens here as a prosecutor.”