Burns Fundraising In Strong Shape; Out Raises Barrow For 2nd Straight Quarter

April-17, 2006

Burns Fundraising In Strong Shape; Out Raises Barrow For 2nd Straight Quarter

(Savannah, Georgia) - Finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission on Saturday showed former Congressman Max Burns out raising his opponent, Athens Congressman John Barrow, by over $20,000 for the latest fundraising period. Burns reported over $274,000 raised for the first quarter of 2006 compared to Barrow's $253,000. This is the second straight fundraising period that Burns out raised Barrow.

"I'm extremely honored and grateful for the support I've received from folks across Georgia's 12 th District," said Burns. "As I've traveled the district with a message of common-sense leadership and conservative Georgia values, people have joined our campaign because they know this election is critical to protecting our conservative values and balancing the budget for our children and grandchildren."

The FEC requires candidates seeking federal office to file periodic campaign finance reports. For the first quarter filing ending March 31st, Burns reported raising $274,774 with 78 percent of his itemized individual contributions raised from within Georgia. On the other hand, Barrow reported $253,993 raised while only 44 percent of his itemized individuals contributions were from Georgia.

What was even more startling about the reports was the disparity between the two candidates when the amount of money raised from individuals outside of Georgia was compared to what was actually raised within the lines of Georgia's new 12th District. The FEC reports revealed Burns raised $85,399 from individuals within the district lines and only $2,551 from individuals outside of Georgia . Barrow has taken $74,750, nearly 50 percent of his individual itemized contributions, from supporters outside of Georgia while only raising $18,700, or 12 percent of his individual itemized contributions, from within the 12th District.

"Just who's interest does John Barrow represent? Looking at his finance reports, you'll find that most of his supporters aren't from the towns in the 12th District, but from places in California, Texas and New York," said Burns.

The Burns campaign is in a strong position nearly six months before Election Day. Last month, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert joined over 300 people at a campaign rally for Burns at McKinney's Pond and the new House Majority Leader John Boehner is scheduled to help Burns today. In early March, a poll showed the race to be a statistical dead-heat with more respondents saying it was time to give a new person a chance than to re-elect Barrow.

"The people of the 12th District have a clear choice in this election between a local with roots they can trust and a liberal from Athens being financed by the National Democrats in California and New York," said Burns. "The proof is in the pudding and these reports show the 12th District supports a neighbor to be their Congressman who will fight for smaller government and never compromise the local values of Georgia's 12th District."

Later this month, Burns will officially qualify for the new 12th District in Atlanta and then spend the next four days traveling to every county in the district on his "Down Home" bus tour, taking his message of budget reforms for a more prosperous America, supporting out troops to win the War on Terror and economic growth to create opportunities for our communities to the voters. Burns has taken his listening tour to each of the 22 counties of the 12 th District in an effort to build the broadest-based and most focused grassroots campaign in 12th District history.

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