LG April Money

Here's an update on where the candidates stand as of April 30, 2006, based on Cash on Hand.

Analysis follows

1. Deb Goldberg:

Starting Balance: $155,479.94
Receipts: $1,034,250.83
Expenditures: $44,964.94
Ending Balance: $1,144,765.83
Net: +989,285.89

2. Andrea Silbert:

Starting Balance: $408,226.86
Receipts: $62,825
Expenditures: $19,360.73
Ending Balance: $451,691.13
Net: +43,464.27

3. Tim Murray

Starting Balance: $323,234.76
Receipts: $49,871.09
Expenditures: $42,926.33
Ending Balance: $330,017.99
Net: +6,944.23

4. Sam Kelley:

Starting Balance: $26,039.26
Receipts: $9,625.00
Expenditures: $22,046.32
Ending Balance: 13, 617.94
Net: -$12,421.32

Obviously, Deb Goldberg's insertion of $1 Million of her own money is the most significant development to happen in the LG's money race thus far. However, Murray's hot and cold fundraising is baffling to me. I guess that's the strategy - focus for a month, catch breath for a month, and so forth. If the pattern holds, May will be a big month for Murray.

But his failure to continue his catch up to Silbert is ominous nonetheless. From what has been posted in comments on this site and others, he's throwing a huge party at the Convention. That's going to cost him a lot, and I'm sure he's going to be spending on other stuff to try and woo delegates so that he can do what he has to to to remain viable - win the convention. As I've said before, Murray can't let one of the others win or even come close - otherwise it's lights out. I think the darkhorse that I'm hearing about is Silbert. She's picking up steam, is doing better than any first-time and non-uber-rich candidate has ever done, and actually has something to say. If she can pull off a second place finish, I think all bets are off because then she becomes the one people want to contribute to, she raises some more dough over the summer and competes on the airwaves with Goldberg. But if Tim does his job and wins handily as the conventional wisdom expects, then we're in to the trenches of a long, hot summer.

Here's an interesting tidbit I picked up from reviewing these:

- Sam Kelley paid $16,000 to Spoonworks for signatures. Looks like he only paid for about 4000, according to today's Globe. Other candidates' and parties' payments in that article too. Deb Goldberg paid $12,000 for her signatures to J&F Associates. Probably not for all of them, unless this was some upfront fee, with more being paid later.

- Here are the salary payments for each candidate this month:
Goldberg: $15,145.26 (after taxes)
Silbert: $8,845.59 (after taxes)
Kelley: $6,000 (consulting fee)
Murray: $10,840 (He appears to not be giving his employees healthcare and instead is treating them all as consultants - but I'm not a benefits expert, so correct me if I'm wrong.)