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Jul 16, 2008

Philadelphia Inquirer - Campaign donations slow down for Manion

After wowing political observers with his early fund-raising prowess, Bucks County Republican Tom Manion has seen a slowdown in donations to his high-profile bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Manion's campaign yesterday reported $241,751 in contributions for the three months ending June 30, down from the $422,520 raised in the first quarter.

That was dwarfed by Murphy's take of more than $730,000 in the second quarter. In all, the freshman congressman has raised more than $3 million during the 2008 election cycle.

After expenses, Murphy reported cash on hand of $2.24 million, compared with about $505,000 for Manion.

Still, Manion's totals likely will be enough to keep national GOP operatives interested in targeting the Eighth District race in the fall election, said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist in Harrisburg.

"It's a good, solid report, but I think even his campaign staff would say they have to step up their fund-raising efforts," Gerow said.

"We believe we are competitive," said Jerry Morgan, Manion's campaign manager, "and we believe we will raise the money we need to win."

Murphy's campaign declined to respond yesterday, saying the financial numbers spoke for themselves.

The Murphy-Manion race has drawn national media coverage because of its uniquely personal window on the war in Iraq.

Murphy, 34, is the only Iraq War veteran in Congress, having served in 2003 as an Army captain. He supports a scheduled withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Manion's only son, Marine First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in action last year near Fallujah.

Manion, 54, a pharmaceutical executive and retired Marine Reserve colonel, has said his son's death was a "wake-up call" for him to return to public service. He supports a continued presence in Iraq, saying military leaders should determine when the country is stable enough for troop withdrawals to begin.

Both candidates have said the economy looms larger than Iraq among voters, yet the war seems destined to be the hallmark of this race.

"It makes for very interesting theater," Gerow said, "and politics ultimately is theatrical."

Yesterday's report shed further light on a complaint that Manion's campaign violated election laws.

Former Riegelsville Mayor Todd Myers complained last month to the Federal Election Commission that a March 25 fund-raiser at Worth & Co. in Pipersville amounted to an illegal campaign contribution. Manion's campaign had not prepaid the company for catering and other costs before the event, as federal election law required. Manion's second-quarter report states that Worth & Co. was paid $5,612.97 for "printing and catering" but not until June 30, 11 days after Myers' complaint. The FEC initially said the complaint was invalid because Myers' name was illegible and the letter failed to include an address or phone number. Yesterday, however, an FEC spokeswoman said the complaint is active and on file. Morgan said Manion's campaign received the complaint yesterday and would file a response within 15 days. Democratic wags, meantime, have seized on the flap for sport. On Monday, the state Democratic Party issued a statement offering Manion free legal services "to ensure that neither he nor his campaign violate campaign laws again." Said Abe Amoros, the party's political and communications director: "You've got to have some fun in politics."