Political cash flowing, $7.4 million in donations reported for 2009

SALT LAKE CITY — Even though 2009 was a tough financial year for many Utahns and businesses, money kept on flowing into state officials' campaign coffers.

More than $7.4 million was reported in donations to all political groups, from officeholders to political parties and political action committees, according to disclosure forms filed Monday.

For the first time, financial reports were due Monday at 5 p.m. from all state political sources: state-level candidates, such as for governor and Legislature; corporations; political action committees; political issue committees, which fund referendum drives; and political parties. Lobbyists also had to file, but their reports weren't due until midnight Monday.

For an off-election year — meaning there were no state races in 2009 — the $3.5 million raised by state-level candidates and officials, like governor, attorney general and legislators, is pretty impressive. (Sometimes that money was raised by their PACs, and not just their formal campaigns.)

Gov. Gary Herbert, who found out last spring that he would become governor when President Barack Obama tapped former GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. as ambassador to China, has raised $1.3 million through his "Friends of Gary" political action committee.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who has just announced he'll be Herbert's Democratic opponent this year, has already raised $339,700 for that race.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff raised a bunch of money, too. First it was to challenge U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. But then Shurtleff dropped out of that race. Latest filings show he raised $320,500 in his PAC last year.

State Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, raised $79,000. He has an impressive $148,000 in cash, and because he just won re-election in 2008, he doesn't face another contest until 2012, leaving him nearly three more years to raise money.

Reports may be viewed online at elections.utah.gov.

University of Utah political science professor Matthew Burbank said big pots of campaign cash discourage challengers. "Especially in GOP ranks in Utah it is more likely to be (successfully) challenged from within the party."

It is typically tougher to raise money in an intraparty fight, and so the GOP incumbent by fundraising year around, every year, can show such a challenger "I will spend it all" to stay in office. A couple of hundred thousand dollars in the bank is also smart if one "wants to step up" to a gubernatorial or Congressional race, he added.