Democrat Wendy Davis won the latest money battle in the race for Texas Governor. But her likely Republican opponent Greg Abbott is still winning the larger war for campaign cash.
Monday at midnight is the deadline for candidates to tell the Texas Ethics Commission how much they raised in the preceding 30 days.
Davis and a Democratic organization supporting her, the Texas Victory Committee, raised $2.85 million in the last month. That was more than Abbott's $2.45 million.
"We are surpassing expectations," Davis campaign manager Karin Johanson said in a press release. "The level of support we are receiving across the state demonstrates the issues we are emphasizing - education, the economy and caring for our veterans – are Texas values."
On the other hand, Abbott has close to $30 million cash on hand. That's almost three times what the Davis campaign has in its campaign war chest.
“Texans from across the state are joining Greg Abbott in building a strong campaign and a brighter future for Texas," Abbott's campaign manger Wayne Hamilton said in their press release.
Money will be crucial to reach voters in a state with many large media markets – including two in the nation's top ten: Houston and Dallas Fort Worth.
Later Tuesday, we can expect more details on fundraising reports, including who gave how much to which candidate.
A poll released Monday by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune showed Abbott with an 11 point lead over Davis. The poll was conducted before Abbott appeared at a campaign event with outspoken Texas rocker Ted Nugent, a move the Davis campaign hopes to capitalize on by drawing attention to Nugent's prior sexual relationships with underage girls.
