For thirty years, Republicans have been steadily gaining on Democrats in party registration. But the numbers about who’s raised what in the governor’s race tell a completely different story (News & Observer). The two Democratic candidates have raised $8.4 million. The three Republicans have raised $500,000. Advantage to Democrats by 17 to 1.

The contrast is even starker when you look at the cash on hand in the campaigns: The Democrats enjoy a thirty-three to one advantage.

This leaves Republicans facing a harsh reality: Unless one of our candidates writes his campaign a check for, say, ten million dollars, our chances of winning the governor’s race are all but nonexistent.

With 35% of registered voters – and more than its share of successful businessmen – how can the candidates of the Republican Party only raise 6% of the money in the governor’s race?

It would be nice if it was because the Democrats have hocked, leveraged and promised away most of the assets of state government (in the form of ‘incentives,’ pension fund contracts and so on) in exchange for campaign donations.

But the greater question is why the Republicans running for governor have raised less money than, say, a candidate for county commissioner.

Raising money is the nuts and bolts of political campaigns and whatever Democrats are doing is working, and not just in the governor’s race. Hillary and Barack Obama have raised more than all eight Republican presidential candidates combined, too.

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