September 15, 2009
Posted: September 15th, 2009 02:11 PM ET

From
Republican Bob McDonnell, pictured, is running against Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia governor's race.
Republican Bob McDonnell, pictured, is running against Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia governor's race.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Republican National Committee is committing to spend more than $7 million on the Virginia governor's race, a party official told CNN on Tuesday.

That figure includes a sum of $400,000 that was transferred directly to the campaign of Republican candidate Bob McDonnell on Tuesday, and the nearly $2 million the RNC has already pumped into the race so far this year. The money will be shared between McDonnell's campaign and the Virginia Victory committee, a partnership between the RNC and the Republican Party of Virginia.

Subtracting the money already spent on the campaign, the RNC's financial commitment leaves McDonnell and other Virginia Republicans with roughly $5 million to spend with just under 50 days left in the governor's race, which is one of two marquee political battles in 2009 along with the New Jersey's governor's race

"Bob McDonnell is a proven leader in the state of Virginia and the RNC is fully committed to ensuring that the campaign has the resources necessary to elect Bob McDonnell the next Governor of Virginia," said Katie Wright, a spokeswoman for the RNC.

The RNC's cash infusion exceeds that of the Democratic National Committee, which announced earlier this month it plans to spend at least $5 million to support Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds.

DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan invoked McDonnell's controversial master's thesis in responding to the news.

"Since devastating revelations about Bob McDonnell's feelings regarding women in the workforce, marriage and equal pay, he's going to need every dollar he can get to run from his record," Sevugan said.

UPDATE: The Deeds campaign announced Tuesday that it had raised $3.5 million in July and August. The McDonnell campaign is expected to release its most recent fundraising figures later today.

UPDATE 2: McDonnell raised less than Deeds in July and August - $2.9 million - but his campaign is touting a $1.5 million cash-on-hand advantage over the Democrat. McDonnell had $5.8 million in the bank entering September.

Filed under: Bob McDonnell • Creigh Deeds • RNC • Virginia


Independent   September 15th, 2009 4:12 pm ET

Spend all you want....You will not win

Willy Brown   September 15th, 2009 4:08 pm ET

Bob will win.

Jake   September 15th, 2009 3:57 pm ET

Give it up, Republicans! Virginia is quickly turning from purple to blue!

Gary   September 15th, 2009 3:45 pm ET

Looks like the RNC wants to buy another state! My hopes are with Deeds. The republicans want to bring Virginia back to the 1800's with their so-called "vision".

gl, From Pittsburgh   September 15th, 2009 3:40 pm ET

I see the CORPORATIONS ARE STILL BACKING THE RNC!

Typical Republican   September 15th, 2009 3:35 pm ET

I will vote for old McDonnell. He'll make sure my wife and daughters remain second class citizens of this country. DOWN with the women by golly. They are all not worth of making decisions or working! This is a WHITE MANS world. To hell with everyone else. ps: Vote for me!

Post always rejected by CNN   September 15th, 2009 3:27 pm ET

I'm telling you anybody in Virginia that votes for this guy is crazy. He is not even a moderate. He is a far right nutso religious nut......Farwell lives again.

Sniffit   September 15th, 2009 3:27 pm ET

Funny...and here I thought it wasn't what people spend to get into office that counts, but what they intend to do once they get there. Got a story on that CNN? Do you even KNOW what these two people are running on?

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   September 15th, 2009 3:24 pm ET

Well the RNC is wasting their money. I'm not voting for Bob "I Don't Think Woman Should Work" McDonnell. Read his thesis and draw your own conclusions. He didn't write like when he was 18 or 21, he was like 34 or something.

FL for Change   September 15th, 2009 3:19 pm ET

Dang...thought we were in a recession. Hey, GOP...I could use the $$$

Shelly   September 15th, 2009 3:17 pm ET

They are wasting money on him.......oh wait I forgot for a moment, that the GOP believe in limited education and keeping women at home. If they get elected we are heading for the dark ages.

chubby   September 15th, 2009 3:10 pm ET

Lets contribute to a Republican Governor in Virginia, then another Republican Governor the same month, then we can move on in getting rid of alot of tax and spend demorats in NOV2010. That will be a great step for 2012.

Liberal4Obama   September 15th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

Bob McDonell is a radical, he is Wrong on working women, wrong on choice and wrong on contraception, wanna know the real McDonell... read his thesis.

Percy Anson   September 15th, 2009 3:07 pm ET

Go, team! Go, McDonnell!

GOPer   September 15th, 2009 3:04 pm ET

On the contrary, McDonnell is another proven fundamentalist of the far right extreme against anyone who does not conform to his narrow view of social ideology.

McDonnell's statements admonishing working-family women and others clearly demonstrate he does not belong anywhere near roles of governance. Period.

Ken   September 15th, 2009 3:03 pm ET

Go for it. I celebrate the money being wasted by the RNC.....sort of a stimulus package for the deluded underbelly of our nation.

W Spivey   September 15th, 2009 2:59 pm ET

You are indeed a great Deed!!!

msmiata97   September 15th, 2009 2:59 pm ET

It's not a suprise to see the neo-cons pumping money into an election that they are worried about just to continue to spread lies, both about their candidate as to what he does and does not stand for, but against Creigh Deeds. Imagine what that $12M (combined dollars) could do for the state of Virginia instead of going into television advertising, paper ads and throw away signs, bumper stickers and buttons. The people of Virginia spoke clearly and loudly in 2008 for Obama and in the last two governor elections with Kane and Warner. Next time McDonnell should go to a real college to get a law degree and stop spreading his "moral values" on the citizens of our state.

Dominican mama 4 Obama   September 15th, 2009 2:48 pm ET

What the RNC needs to do is to enforce the rules of decorum in Congress and insist that Joe 'Manure Bag' Wilson make his apologies to the Congress and the Amderican people on the House floor. That is after all where his outburst took place and he insulted not only the President but those present, and the American people watching on television.

Diana NJ   September 15th, 2009 2:38 pm ET

7 Million... think what good that would do the health care of their state instead.

carlos, that one   September 15th, 2009 2:38 pm ET

keep wasting the money you got from the 8 billion missing from iraq which the cheney ruling party claimed that funds used in the war did not need to be accounted for, well he said.....we do not have to show any acccountability for the iraq war funds.............now, they are using them!!!...............thiefs, corrupt, satanic and inhuman.

Doc in Virginia   September 15th, 2009 2:37 pm ET

I'm a Virginian and to have this right wing Regents University stooge try and impose his faith, his beliefs and his weirdness on us is too much. No birth control for married couples? Why does the GOP squawk about smaller government control and then want to be in your bed? You're all like that. Maybe if you werent all so sexually repressed you wouldnt want to legislate other peoples' sex lives. I have four kids...no more, McDonnell. Americans want freedom and CHOICE. Even those stupid tea partiers with the mispelled signs should have choice. Not one party telling us what we can and cant do.
If there is any tyranny, it's the GOP.

Mississippi Mike   September 15th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

Important state, good use of funds. That's called strategy.

carlos, that one   September 15th, 2009 2:30 pm ET

first of all the pigs don't want republicans in their sty.......satan completely rejects that notion as well......and the republicans are spending money that not even the devil thinks it is worth the effort.......give it up repugnants.....you are not worth the soil you walk on..........you are the garbage of the US of A

Idiot_Pelosi   September 15th, 2009 2:27 pm ET

Creeds:
Wants to Raise Taxes

That's all I need to know.

No Thank You on CREEDS.

It's an easy choice now.

Isabelle   September 15th, 2009 2:21 pm ET

Republicans are so concerned about the cost of healthcare reform but they approve of spending 7 million dollars for one Republican Governor's seat in Virginia???? MORONS!

Reagan was wrong   September 15th, 2009 2:21 pm ET

Bob McDonnell is the man with the vision and ideas to lead Virginia into the 18th century.

stormerF   September 15th, 2009 2:20 pm ET

Why is this news,Who cares? Where is our 80 Billion we loaned the Auto companies?When will be getting some of that money back,that was our Tax dollars?..Why is the MSM not showing us where all this Waste,Fraud,and abuse money , Obama is planning on using for his new Government run health care comming from? Now that he has backed off his taking 500 Billion from Medicare.

Doug, New Jersey   September 15th, 2009 2:19 pm ET

The evil libs in the Northern part of this state should be kicked out, and they should just make that area part of DC. DC is the most liberal area of our nation, which explains why it has the most crime/rape/murder/auto deaths per person. Check out the stats based upon how Democratic each county or city is, there is an undeniable pattern they really tells you everything you need to know about Democrats.

Stacy from Leesburg, VA   September 15th, 2009 2:17 pm ET

Man, why don’t I own a 24-hour news station so that I can make some of this money? Between the amount of cash they are throwing into the insurance debate, the governors’ races and next year’s mid-terms, I could be rolling in some cash. The media creates the news and cashes in on the impending controversy. Now that’s the racket I need to be in!

Jake   September 15th, 2009 2:16 pm ET

If ya can't win election by merits alone, for God's sake buy the seat!!

Holly   September 15th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

7 millions dollars worth of lies, slander, and propaganda. God help us all.

FORMER republican, NEVER again!   September 15th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

Republicans destroyed and bankrupted this country, why would we still put them in office??

Amazing   September 15th, 2009 2:14 pm ET

All these millions being thrown away on both sides...........couldn't this money be put to better use?

I Support President Obama!   September 15th, 2009 2:14 pm ET

Only those who do not have a conscience, do not love God and who have no compassion would vote for a republican. They are soulless.

Scott   September 15th, 2009 2:14 pm ET

They have $7 million after the whooping they've gotten in the past year?

republicans DESTROYED America!   September 15th, 2009 2:13 pm ET

Anyone who votes for a republican now of days seriously needs their head examined.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@KuhnCNN: Great meeting @JackGrayCNN today and seeing @sinderbrandrcnn in NYC! AC Rock Stars! :-)
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:07:10 -0800
@KuhnCNN: Posted today: Clinton foreign trip first on Twitter. http://bit.ly/9Axuh9 /via @PoliticalTicker
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:36:14 -0800
@KuhnCNN: RT @octavianasrCNN: MUST-READ// Coaching tomorrow's world leaders, through social networking -- http://bit.ly/9tmW6x
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:32:51 -0800
@AWMooneyCNN: Metro finally comes and then stops at station for 20 minutes #snoverkill
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:46:27 -0800
@psteinhauserCNN: I just shoveled two feet of snow off the roof. That was fun!
Updated: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:14:34 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP