As the Republican candidate with the least statewide name recognition, Scott Angelle’s early campaign spending surpassed that of any of his rivals.
A Daily Report analysis of campaign finance reports for 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 indicate he has made the rounds among consultants and pollsters, spending $163,997 with Baton Rouge-based Republican fundraisers The Bautsch Group, $75,200 with Fletcher Consultants, $49,050 with McLaughlin & Associates in New York, $35,293 with Marathon Strategic Communications of Dallas and $33,316 with OnMessage Inc. of Maryland, as well as thousands more on other minor advisers.
Consulting and polling expenses constitute the biggest chunk of his spending—38%—followed by campaign paraphernalia and advertising, which accounts for 30% of his expenses. Angelle also has a handful of employees on the payroll, which thus far has cost him over $100,000.
Veteran politico David Vitter apparently isn’t as dependent on consultants as the other three candidates are—they account for less than a quarter of his expenses thus far. The bulk of his $926,248 in spending—roughly 44% of it—has been on media buys, particularly direct mail and online.
His own chief of staff, Kyle Ruckert—who also directed his re-election bid for the U.S. Senate—has been paid $25,293. Courtney Guastella of New Orleans, who has had past involvement in his super PAC and now serves as his finance director, has been paid $97,000 for fundraising consulting; Kerry Stockwell has been paid $15,000 for money consulting as well. During the period analyzed, Vitter spent another $26,200 with Magellan Strategies of Geismar and its consultant, John Diez.
Sitting Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has spent significantly less than Angelle and Vitter, coming in at $524,899. Consultants account for 65% of his expenses thus far, including Norway Hill Associates, the New Hampshire firm run by former White House political director and longtime Texas Gov. Rick Perry consultant David Carney; locals George Kennedy and Jay Vicknair; and fundraising consultant Sally Nungesser, who raised $3.5 million for Dardenne’s last lieutenant governor bid. His campaign paraphernalia and advertising spending thus far has been no larger than what he’s doled out for administrative expenses; each account for about 16% of expenses.
The lone Democrat in the race, state Rep. John Bel Edwards, has thus far run the leanest campaign, at $222,240. His expenses have been less than half that of his next closest competitor and less than a quarter of the level of spending leader Angelle. Polling by The Kitchens Group of Florida and consulting from former Mitch Landrieu campaign intern Christopher Binder and Top Draw Strategies account for a sizable share of his expenses.
—Penny Font
