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The Delaware County Daily Times, March 8, 2010 Last year’s third quarter fundraising figures for 7th Congressional District Republican candidate Pat Meehan closely matched refunds disbursed from his defunct gubernatorial campaign coffers, according to a comparison of state and federal financial disclosures.
Meehan, a former Delaware County district attorney and former U.S. attorney, touted his fundraising prowess last October and “the tremendous groundswell of support” he saw in raising more than $200,000 in the final 16 days of the third-quarter fundraising period that ended Sept. 30.
Democratic candidate and state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, was quick to point out then that his own fundraising skills, at about $250,000 for the quarter, were nothing to sneeze at.
But Meehan spokesman Pete Peterson noted Lentz had more than a one-month head start because his committee filed with the Federal Election Commission Aug. 10 and Meehan didn’t file until Sept. 14.
It appears Meehan, of Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, was the one with the head start. He originally set his sights on a gubernatorial run and formed an exploratory committee in February 2009 that received more than $800,000 in donations.
But Meehan decided instead to run for the congressional seat when it became clear U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, would challenge U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary election.
Peterson said at the time of the third-quarter filing that none of Meehan’s congressional fundraising money came directly from his state PAC.
Which is technically true: Meehan refunded some $231,445 to his state race donors, many of whom simply turned around and donated the refunded amount to Meehan’s congressional campaign, often on the same day.
But a side-by-side analysis of Meehan’s gubernatorial campaign finance data with federal congressional campaign filings shows $178,000 of the nearly $211,000 Meehan raised in the third quarter directly matches refunds to original donors.
“I don’t think it’s misleading to say it was raised in 16 days,” Meehan campaign manager Bryan Kendro told political Web site PA2010.com. “It was their choice to contribute. Whether it was for Congress or governor, they were going to support him.”
“The fact that so many individuals who had contributed to his gubernatorial campaign chose to support his campaign for Congress is a testament to people’s belief in Pat’s character and ability to help put our nation and Pennsylvania back on the right track,” said Peterson.
Lentz spokesman Vincent Rongione saw it another way.
“The misleading nature of these numbers proves once again that Pat Meehan is a typical career politician who will say and do anything for political gain,” said Rongione. “The 16-day claim is a completely unnecessary falsehood perpetrated by Meehan and it is exactly the type of phony political trick that drives good people away from politics.”
Meehan’s fundraising prowess was proven in year-end figures, however. He garnered $579,840 in last quarter of 2009, bringing his overall fundraising to $787,989. Meehan ended the year with $694,207 cash-on-hand.
Lentz raised $294,859 in the last quarter and ended the year with $459,691 cash-on-hand. His total raised to date is $515,229. By ALEX ROSE
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