September 23, 2012 09:00 PM UTC

Better Fundraising Quarter for Ramirez; Still Not Enough

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• by: Colorado Pols

State Representative Robert Ramirez raised more in the last month and a half than in the entire course of the campaign so far, according to recently filed finance reports. In the fundraising period ending on August 29th, Ramirez reported contributions totaling just over $20,500, a considerable haul bolstered by his September 17th report of an additional $3,000.

In the same period, Democratic challenger Tracy Kraft-Tharp raised nearly $34,500 — $28,000 between July 27th and August 29th and $6,500 between August 30th and September 12th. Kraft-Tharp has consistently outraised Ramirez since she entered the race a year ago, but this is the first time Ramirez’s report had the same number of integers, at the very least.

Make no mistake, Kraft-Tharp still enjoys a considerable cash advantage. She’s raised $40,000 more than Ramirez, and, even with his recent contributions, eclipses his cash on hand number by over $20,000. At this juncture, Ramirez, whose campaign has been marred by asinine mistakes, is considered unlikely to win a second term. He only barely beat a beleaguered Democratic incumbent in 2010, and his 2012 re-elect run is a far cry from that campaign.

HD-29 is competitive enough such that Ramirez could be able to stage a comeback if he plays his cards right. His recent fundraising surge is a good start, but, given how unlikely that it is he can bring in comparable amounts for the remainder of the campaign, Kraft-Tharp’s financial lead is functionally insurmountable.

Money isn’t everything in politics, but it’s important to remember that Ramirez is an incumbent: if he hasn’t built a rolodex from which he can draw checks after serving in office for two years, it’s unlikely he has the skills necessary to flourish in the pressure-filled last few weeks of a campaign.