Jay Nixon's Campaign Raises Nearly $1.5 Million; Most Successful Election Year 1st Quarter

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Attorney General Jay Nixon's campaign for Governor today announced that it raised nearly $1.5 million in the first fundraising quarter of 2008, significantly more than any candidate for Governor has ever raised in the first quarter of an election year in Missouri. After taking in more than 16,500 individual contributions, the campaign also reported more than $2.7 million on hand.

The strong fundraising quarter sends a clear message: Missourians are ready for change.

"During these difficult economic times, Missourians want a Governor who will move our state in a new direction," said Oren Shur, spokesman for Nixon's campaign.  "Missourians know Jay Nixon has the fresh ideas needed to move our state forward again, while the Republican candidates have embraced the same failed policies that have held us back these past few years.  That's why thousands of folks are making contributions and getting involved in Jay's campaign to bring about the change our state needs."

After another intense grassroots effort, the campaign is proud to report a total of 10,790 contributions of $100 or less.  The majority of those contributions were generated by more than 85 grassroots fundraisers that regular Missourians have hosted across the state or through the campaign Web site, www.jaynixon.com.

The summary page of the filing report is attached.

Some additional facts about the Nixon campaign's fundraising efforts:

• The Nixon campaign raised significantly more last quarter than any candidate for Governor has ever raised in the first quarter of an election year in Missouri. (For purposes of comparison, in the first quarter of 2004: Matt Blunt raised $1.02 million, Bob Holden raised $726,000 and Claire McCaskill raised $604,000.)

• The majority of total contributions (10,790, or 65%) received by the campaign have been for $100 or less.

• The Nixon campaign has raised more than $300,000 through the campaign Web site.

• The campaign significantly expanded its donor base during the first quarter of 2008, adding more than 1,800 new donors. More than half of the total contributors in the first quarter were first-time contributors to the campaign.