A little less than $2,000 in dollar bills sent to donors in a controversial fundraising plea from the re-election campaign of outgoing Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich appears to have netted almost a 6,200 percent return on the money that came back.
According to an Examiner analysis of campaign finance records filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections, at least 1,994 dollar bills sent out in mid-September were returned with an additional $123,186.39 in donations.
An unknown number of dollar bills was sent out with an undated letter that Ehrlich wrote was “the most important” he had ever written.
“I?m asking you to return this dollar along with a contribution of $500 or more,” Ehrlich said in the letter. “My campaign for governor is reaching the point of no return.”
An Ehrlich campaign spokeswoman repeatedly refused to say just how many dollar bills went out. But campaign finance records indicate $2,377 in single bills was returned after the letters were sent. Of that amount, $1,994 came back with an additional donation.
The majority of donations returned with the $1 bills did not exceed $500, as the campaign had requested, but several contributors did write checks for between $1,000 and $2,000. The average donation that came back with a dollar was about $60.
The fundraising tactic drew attention when someone registered an anonymous complaint with the Maryland State Board of Elections. On Oct. 4, the director of the board?s division of candidacy and campaign finance sent a letter asking the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor to look into the matter.
On Oct. 27, the Maryland deputy state prosecutor announced its investigation into the matter was completed in a letter to Ehrlich?s general counsel clearing the campaign.
“We have found no criminal violation of the election laws in connection with this fundraising solicitation,” wrote Thomas McDonough. “Therefore, we are closing this file.”
