From the Battle Creek Enquirer:

According to Matt Lahr, Walberg's spokesman, the freshman congressman will
be releasing his second-quarter fundraising information before the Federal
Election Commission deadline Sunday. Walberg raised about $135,000 in the first
quarter.

Other Democrats challenging Walberg in 2008 are former state Sen. Jim
Berryman of Adrian and Munith farmer Sharon Renier.

Berryman said he began fundraising about five weeks ago and has collected
about $55,000.

Renier did not return phone calls Monday from the Enquirer

(Emphasis added.)

Although Berryman's $55,000 is less than my expectations post called for, it's still impressive after a decade of low-budget campaigns. (Interesting fact: the last time a Democratic candidate raised more than about $60,000 for a campaign in the 7th District was 1998-- 10 years ago-- when Jim Berryman challenged Congressman Nick Smith.) Also, if Berryman has only been fundraising for five weeks-- very roughly one-third of the time since March 26, when David Nacht announced-- then he's in good shape to match Nacht in the next quarter.

That said, David Nacht definitely has the money advantage at this point. He's got $130,000 cash-on-hand, which is a nice little sum to be sitting on-- and building-- as we move closer to 2008.

The key for both Berryman and Nacht is to spend their money very wisely and frugally. This point in the election cycle is about making all the right contacts with Democrats in the district and raising money for use later. They really shouldn't be spending any large sums of money until this time next year.

And for the fans of Sharon Renier, there's still plenty of time for her to mount a strong campaign.

Of course, none of this will matter in a year, and July of 2008 will be a completely different setting. The real lesson to be learned right now is this: Michigan's 7th District will have at least two strong, credible Democratic candidates that can raise plenty of money.

DCCC, are you excited yet?

UPDATE III: Updates I and II have been removed and are now separate posts, here and here. This was getting long, so I thought I'd make it easier on all of you.

Labels: 2008 Election, David Nacht, Fundraising, Jim Berryman, Sharon Renier, Tim Walberg