A source close to Gary Palmer’s congressional campaign told Yellowhammer today that Palmer’s soon-to-be-released first campaign finance report will show he raised approximately $250,000 in the first fundraising period of the campaign.
“What I found most interesting about it was that it’s almost all in-state donors,” the source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the campaign. “And with the exception of about $5,000, it’s all from individual donors.”
Palmer, the longtime head of the Alabama Policy Institute, has proven his fundraising chops over the years while running his non-profit think tank. His network of conservative policy shops around the country was also widely believed to be fertile ground for his fundraising efforts.
But one of the main question marks of Palmer’s campaign was whether he would be able to translate the in-state support he’s received for API into campaign cash for his congressional bid.
If Palmer did indeed raise roughly a quarter million dollars from Alabama donors in the first fundraising period, that will go a long would toward answering that question.
The first fundraising period of the AL-06 race ended on Dec. 31. Each campaign must file their campaign finance disclosures with the Federal Elections Commission by the end of January. Republicans Will Brooke, Paul DeMarco, Chad Mathis and Tom Vigneulle are also vying for the AL-06 seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Spencer Bachus.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.