O’Malley/Brown Outraises Ehrlich/Cox by Nearly $1 Million

O’Malley/Brown break $10 Million raised mark as of August deadline, surpassing Kennedy Townsend total raised

BALTIMORE, MD (August 14, 2006) – The O’Malley/Brown campaign reported today that Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown have raised an unprecedented $10.2 million during the current election cycle. For the most recent reporting period that ended last week, O’Malley and Brown out raised Bob Ehrlich and Kristen Cox by nearly $1 million dollars, raising approximately $3.4 million since January. O’Malley and Brown reported having approximately $5.1 million cash on hand.

“With 3 months to go and over $5 million on hand, the O’Malley/Brown campaign is in a very strong position to defeat Bob Ehrlich and George Bush’s money machine this November,� said Josh White, O’Malley/Brown campaign manager. “The strong showing of support for the O’Malley/Brown campaign proves that Maryland families are tired of Bob Ehrlich’s loyalty to George Bush and special interests, and want leadership in Annapolis that will fight for them.�

O’Malley himself out raised Ehrlich with approximately $2.95 million, while Brown out raised Cox with just over $500,000. O’Malley and Brown also reported having $900,000 more cash on hand than compared to O’Malley’s total reported in January.

More than half of the contributions O’Malley and Brown raised were for $100 or less. The average campaign contribution was $370. The amount of money raised by O’Malley and Brown thus far already exceeds the total amount of money raised by Democratic candidates for Governor in 2002 and 1998. In 2002, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend raised $8.5 million throughout her entire campaign and in 1998, Parris Glendening raised $6.2 million total. At this point in 2002, Townsend had raised $6.7 million in funds, and had $4.5 million on hand in her campaign account.

Bob Ehrlich, with the help of George Bush and the Republican fundraising machine, is widely expected to raise over $20 million before November. In 2002, Ehrlich spokesman, Paul Schurick, told the Washington Post, “Money is a direct reflection of support. The money goes where the donors think the votes are going to go, and this is a sign that the tide has shifted.�

“The tide has shifted away from Bob Ehrlich and George Bush, and together we will take back the State House, and put the Governor’s office back on the side of Maryland’s families,� said White.