A very well-funded governor (File photo)
This part of the Detroit News' roundup of the governor's political donations from January to July is perhaps not news: Gretchen Whitmer has a lot of money in the bank.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (File photo)
The details, though, the depth, breadth and height of Whitmer's cash haul? That's news: From January to mid-July, Whitmer raised a staggering $9.5 million, "nearly triple what the last two incumbent Michigan governors raised over a similar time frame," Craig Mauger writes. And the givers? Steven Spielberg, yes that Steven Spielberg, threw in $7,150, the maximum allowable for an individual. So did "Microsoft executive Bradford Smith of Washington state, investor Donald Sussman of Florida and billionaire businessman Dirk Ziff of New York," among others.
What does it all mean? Only this:
The donation total reflects the national spotlight that's been on Whitmer over the last two years as she has governed a battleground state during a global pandemic and was considered as a potential running mate for President Joe Biden.
Her fundraising haul shows "instant viability" if she decides to run for president herself one day because of her ability to reach a national donor base, said David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University.
"It’s a pretty stunning report," Dulio said.
It also means she will be able to outspend her yet-to-be-nominated opponent and still have plenty left over to launch a presidential run. Just over 60 percent of that total came from individuals or PACs within the state, with the rest from the other 49, with donations from California, New York and Texas leading the pack.
The Michigan GOP responded with a quote about Michigan being on the wrong path and how Whitmer has to fix our problems before she gets too ambitious.
