U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has raised nearly $9 million so far in this six-year election cycle — vastly more than any of his Republican competitors who began lining up to run just last year.
Yet he’s so desperate to raise even more money, Bennet’s willing to admit he’s on the verge of losing this race.
Democrats are notorious for issuing panicky fundraising appeals.
But in this instance, Bennet ain’t bluffing.
Democrats are tanking nationwide, and Colorado voters aren’t pleased with Bennet for basically bailing on them this term.
Bennet was completely missing in action during his presidential campaign in 2019.
Just weeks after he finally gave up on his failed bid in February 2021, Bennet shuttered his Washington, D.C. office for the pandemic, and it turns out it’s been closed ever since.
Our reporting on Sen. Michael Bennet’s office closure stars in a new ad in the state’s closely watched senate race:
pic.twitter.com/UMyXy3ESN5— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) March 30, 2022
Bennet was down to $4.7 million left in his campaign checking account during the last quarter filing period that ended Dec. 31.
Taking the lead in fundraising among Republican challengers, Joe O’Dea and Gino Campana were neck and neck with both putting up about $500,000 of their own money and reporting about $1 million raised, each.
State Rep. Ron Hanks only raised $16,000 last quarter and loaned himself another $12,000. It will be interesting to see if his ties to Mike Lindell and Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in the past few months pays off.
Eli Bremer had about $178,000 cash on hand, and Deborah Flora had $471,000 in the bank, of which about $100,000 she donated to her campaign.
The deadline for this fundraising quarter is March 31.