Having complained about the way Rick Noriega’s third-quarter fundraising total was reported, I’d like to take a minute and enjoy this headline: Noriega bests Watts in individual donations.
Democratic state Rep. Rick Noriega raised more from individuals over three months than his possible rival for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination, campaign reports filed Monday show.
But Noriega lags far behind San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts in the money chase because Watts has loaned and given his campaign $7.5 million of his own money.Noriega raised about $508,000 from individuals, not including refunded contributions, for next year’s elections. Watts pulled in about $443,000, Federal Election Commission reports showed.
Both hope to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who will seek a second six-year term. He collected $1.3 million from individual contributors.
Noriega also had $22K from PACs, plus a $50K loan, for a total of $580K. Watts apparently gave himself another $127K, which is why you’ll see $570K being reported for him. Noriega, of course, had only two months to raise his total, given his mid-July entry and two-week National Guard commitment. Once again I say, he can raise the money he’ll need. I fully expect him to improve on his total next quarter.
Of course, John Cornyn did raise more than the two of them together, so there’s still a long way to go. But we’re in the game, and we’re in the ballpark. It’s been awhile since that’s been the case. I feel good going forward.
I’ve heard some people chattering about whether or not Watts will contribute to Noriega in the general election if Noriega wins the primary. The general consensus in the texas “net-roots” seems to be that Watts should. I tend to agree. However, this leads me to another question. If Watts wins the nomination, do you think the “net-roots” (read yourself, Capitol Annex, BOR, etc…) will put worth the same effort to raise money for a Watts general election campaign as it has for the draft Noriega effort and his subsequent primary campaign?