2008: Oklahoma GOP Has Huge Cash Advantage

The Oklahoma Republican Party appears poised to enter the 2008 election year with a formidable financial advantage over the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Ethics Commission filings as of September 30th show the GOP has seven times as much state cash on hand as the Democrats, and enjoyed a 3-to-1 fundraising advantage in the 3-month reporting period. Plus, the GOP's federal fund has $75,000 on hand, dramatically increasing the party's overall financial edge. The party now has about $112,000 in cash on hand in both accounts, compared to the Democratic Party's approximately $26,000 in state and federal accounts.

GOP State Chairman Gary Jones said the party's fundraising is "going great." He said it appears the party will enter the election year in a strong position.

Going into past election years, the party has touched on $100,000 in cash on hand; it appears this election year, the number will be substantially higher.

The September 30th reports show that the Oklahoma Democratic Party raised $15,422 in the period and $68,195 this year. it spent $12,007 in the period and $65,000 this year. It had just $5,846 in cash on hand. In a recent email, Chairman Ivan Holmes told supporters the party is making progress retiring old debt, but still cannot afford a paid staff of its own. The Democratic National Committee has paid staff salaries for a few workers. The party's federal fund, the latest Federal Election Commission report shows, owes $67,360 and has $20,215 in cash on hand.

Jones' report shows the GOP raised almost $47,000 in the period and $132,874 for the year. The party spent $47,732 in the period for a total of $123,000 for the year. It had $37,232 in cash on hand. In addition, the party's federal Leadership Council has $75,000 in cash on hand after raising almost $180,000 this year, it's FEC report as of October 20th shows.

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