Ohio- Dennis Kucinich raised more than $756,000 for his presidential campaign in April, May and June from donors including Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. But Kucinich’s congressional campaign didn’t fare nearly as well. Its take was less than $10,000.
Although Kucinich has collected $1.1 million for his presidential bid so far this year, his campaign had just $213,000 in the bank at the end of June. That’s almost 100 times the $2,272 left in his congressional kitty.
The amount Kucinich has raised for his presidential campaign is paltry compared with the $62.5 million that fundraising leader Hillary Clinton has raised, or even the $6.1 million raised by Joe Biden. The only Democratic contender to raise less than Kucinich this year is Mike Gravel, who has collected about $175,000.
The amount Kucinich has raised for his congressional race is also minuscule. Even the re-election campaign of California Democratic Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald, who died of cancer on April 22, collected more money than Kucinich.
Asked whether Kucinich’s low congressional fundraising tally indicates he won’t seek re-election, his congressional campaign treasurer, Donald J. McTigue, chuckled.
“I would say that Dennis has never had problems raising money when he needs it,” said McTigue, who’s certain Kucinich will run for re-election to his congressional seat.
Flynt, who is currently offering $1 million to anyone who can prove they had an illicit sexual encounter with a member of Congress or a high-ranking government official, gave Kucinich’s presidential campaign $2,300 on May 10.
Other donors to Kucinich’s presidential campaign included Robert Fitrakis, a former Green Party candidate for Ohio governor, who once wrote an article for Hustler that claimed Republicans stole the 2004 presidential election in Ohio, and soap opera actress Deidre Hall (Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives”).