LeBlanc at Least Considers Raising Money

According to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, former City Councilor David LeBlanc has created a campaign finance committee for his run for state representative. LeBlanc created the account on Wednesday, and Judith Kaddy is serving as the committee's treasurer.

Front-runner Stephen DiNatale set up a committee months ago. The third acknowledged candidate, former Mayor Mary Whitney, hasn't created one yet.

It's a reality in politics that there can be strength -- even if it's manufactured -- from raising money. Put together a big enough bank account, and you're taken seriously (on a larger stage, say hello to Christy Mihos). There's political power there, along with the buying power for signs, stickers, ads and all the other that comes with a well-organized, serious campaign.

When thinking through who's a serious candidate and who isn't, we look at the money situation as an indication of how we should think. Those who instantly create committees and start raising money (DiNatale) earn that respect. Those who wait awhile and finally get around to it (LeBlanc) earn suspicion and a big question mark. Those who haven't after months (Whitney) make us wonder why to even bother.

Unfortunatley for LeBlanc, he and DiNatale don't have to tell the world how much money they have until September. LeBlanc needs to prove his big earner if he's going to move into "serious contender" mode. If we were operating his campaign, we'd crow loud and often after that first $10,000 is raised by early summer. If that first $10,000 is raised by early summer. We're just saying.

It's also worth noting that DiNatale's website, while not the most engaging or updated page, notes the candidate started knocking on doors in late March. We're not convinced that kind of retail politics is super-effective, but it's one of those things candidates do to get attention and generate the illusion of campaigning hard. DiNatale has that illusion firmly in place, yet another big sign he's running a very serious campaign. At this point, the view that it's DiNatale and then everyone else way, way back is becoming more and more the reality.