Watertown Daily Times - Owens Widens Fundraising Lead Over Doheny

News Article

By Brian Amaral

Democratic U.S. Rep. William L. Owens widened his fundraising edge over Republican Matthew A. Doheny in the second quarter of 2012, nearly doubling his Nov. 6 opponent's war chest.

Mr. Owens raised just over $300,000 from April to the end of June, representing his best fundraising haul in this election cycle. It left him with nearly $900,000 in the bank for his re-election campaign. Mr. Doheny raised roughly $243,000, leaving him with a $521,000 war chest.

"These numbers show that more than ever, folks are looking for an independent voice who will fight for quality north country jobs -- and work with both parties to do so," James E. Hannaway, Mr. Owens's campaign manager, said in an email. "Bill's message is resonating, and this means we'll have more resources to communicate that effectively in the fall."

The figures do not take into account outside spending, which is expected to play a major role in one of the nation's most closely watched House races. And a spokesman for Mr. Doheny said that despite his relative cash doldrums, Mr. Doheny "will have the resources needed to win this race." Mr. Doheny sank $2.3 million of his own money into his unsuccessful 2010 campaign, and might lend his campaign money again in this race. He hasn't done so yet.

Roughly two-thirds of the money that Mr. Owens raised in the second quarter came from political action committees, with the rest coming from individual donors.

Mr. Doheny has taken more than a third of his money from PACs, and has relied on a network of former business and finance associates in New York City and elsewhere to raise individual contributions. Mr. Doheny, who lives in Watertown, formerly worked for Wall Street finance firms Deutsche Bank Securities and Fintech Advisory. He now owns North Country Capital LLC.

Neither candidate has had much luck in cultivating a significant fundraising base in the north country.

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