Money talks, but doesn’t shout, in 2010 Va. races

Gerry Connolly

Source: Federal Election Commission

*excluding money received postelection

Three of the four winning candidates in Virginia’s hotly contested congressional races last month were actually outspent by their opponents — an indication that in a year like 2010, money was not necessarily a foolproof firewall against an angry electorate. Incumbent Democratic Reps. Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher both outraised their opponents, Congressmen-elect Robert Hurt, who beat Perriello, and Morgan Griffith, who beat Boucher on Nov. 2, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Perriello’s campaign raised nearly $4 million. Hurt raised about $2.5 million. Boucher raised about $2.6 million — outraising his opponent, Morgan Griffith, by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. Griffith, previously majority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, opted to follow a state rule and not accept donations until after the General Assembly adjourned March 14.

But the fundraising advantage could not save Perriello, first elected in 2008, or Boucher, first elected in 1982, from being swept out of office.

Meanwhile, incumbent Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly raised $400,000 less than Republican challenger Keith Fimian in Northern Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, but narrowly defeated Fimian. Though Connolly raised less of his own money, he benefited from a $1 million advertising campaign funded by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the week leading up to the election.

In Virginia’s 2nd District, Republican Scott Rigell took in about $600,000 more than his opponent, incumbent Democratic Rep. Glenn Nye, and defeated Nye.

As the races demonstrate, money doesn’t necessarily buy elections — but it does help.

“Yes, it matters, in that you have to raise enough to be competitive,” said longtime Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth. “Griffith raised enough to be competitive.”

“You can’t win without money, essentially, but you don’t always have to match your opponent dollar for dollar” to get your message across, he added.

This election cycle also saw a lot of cash from outside groups pouring into races across the country, including more than $12.7 million that flowed into Virginia’s four congressional races, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

“In politics, money helps,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of communication at George Mason University. “But in a tough year with an angry electorate, money isn’t necessarily going to save you.SDRq

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