Gubernatorial spending lagging behind

Five candidates and one nonprofit organization have spent only $3,371,214 on gubernatorial campaigns through July 4 this year, a drop of over $5.9 million in spending in 2006 through the same period.

A Michigan Campaign Finance Network report found Dick DeVos alone spent $7 million and the Michigan Democratic Party had spent $2.3 million for gubernatorial television advertising by June of the 2006 campaign.

Republicans Mike Cox and Rick Snyder currently lead the candidates with 79 percent of the total money raised.  Since Attorney General Mike Cox has outspent Snyder by $473,696,  although Mr. Snyder has spent more overall, $1,497,923 to $1,162,463,  since Memorial Day.

Democratic candidate Speaker of the House Andy Dillon has spent $335,380, with $282,880 on broadcast outlets in Detroit and the remaining $52,500 spent on cable.

Americans for Job Security has spent $273,000, all in the Grand Rapids market, for ads attacking U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra.

Read the full MCFN report here.

Governor hopefuls scale back TV ads – Detroit Free Press

Michigan gubernatorial candidates tally up $3.4 million in TV ad spending – Crain’s Detroit Business