Cook: Leslie Rutledge Lacks Campaign Cash To Compete

It”s time to do a quick check-in on the Attorney General”s race between Democrat Nate Steel and Republican Leslie Rutledge.

It”s crunch time for candidates and all are scrambling to raise every last penny for their final media push in the last four-to-six weeks of the election.

On Monday, both Attorney General candidates filed their monthly fundraising reports with the Secretary of State”s office and one thing is instantly clear after reviewing the reports.

Leslie Rutledge doesn”t have the funds to be truly competitive heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

On Rutledge”s last fundraising report, she only had $40,748 in cash-on-hand. In stark contrast, Nate Steel reported having $349,432 in the bank. Stating the obvious, that is a monumental difference in campaign cash with less than two months left in the election.

For historical perspective, the last Republican nominee for Attorney General, Gunner Delay, had $102,300 in the bank at this point back in 2006.

Also in August, Nate Steel dwarfed Rutledge”s fundraising efforts raising $90,020 to Rutledge”s $53,940.

Not only is Steel leading in campaign ” OSPREY – Pine View alpine school district language arts teacher Fran Squires has been named the 2014 Outstanding Middle Level Educator in the English Language Arts by the National Council of Teachers of English. funds, but a new poll released by the Democrat-aligned group Southern Progress showed Steel leading Rutledge, 37% to 34%.

The Arkansas Times blog has some recent reporting on Rutledge”s work history and how DHS has specially classified her as not eligible for rehire after she left their employ. Rutledge”s multiple jobs in a short time frame, and her subsequent explanation of the reasons why, make her appear a bit flaky.

Like all the other major statewide races, the Attorney General race is likely to be close, but Nate Steel appears to be in the better position for victory heading into final six weeks of the election.