Graves Outraises ALL Opponents; Momentum Grows Daily

(RANGER, GA) – Finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission yesterday show Republican State Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), candidate for Congress in Georgia’s 9th District, out raised his seven opponents for the latest fundraising period.   Graves’ report shows nearly $163,000 raised from individual contributors and political committees for the 3rd quarter of 2009, while all the other candidates reported less.

This combined with his previous quarter’s success places Graves as the top fundraiser in the race and this can be attributed to the 753 contributors to his campaign.  

Graves’ report contains no loans and his campaign has no debt.  

This is the second fundraising period that the 9th District candidates were required to report their totals.  This report shows that after only six months in the race Graves has built a strong campaign.

“I’m humbled to have received the support from voters all across Georgia’s 9th District,” said Graves.  “As I’ve traveled the district with a message of returning fiscal sanity to Washington and jump starting the economy by putting people back to work through an expanded private sector, not an expanded government, North Georgians have joined our campaign because they know this election is critical to preserving our conservative values and protecting our children’s and grandchildren’s future.”

The FEC requires candidates seeking federal office to periodically file campaign finance reports and those reports filed yesterday cover the period of July 1 through September 30, 2009.


The momentum is clearly behind Graves with the latest fundraising figures, campaign organization, and most productive quarter of any of the candidates in the race.  During the last 90 days, Graves has:

•    Been recognized as a “National Legislator of the Year” from the American Legislative Exchange Council;
•    Hosted the 4th Annual Corn Roast, the largest political event for a 9th District Congressional candidate this election cycle and one of the largest events in the district;
•    Demonstrated a commanding knowledge of the issues at the Carpet and Rug Institute candidate forum in Dalton;
•    Dominated the only straw poll in the district, winning with over 54 percent of the vote;
•    Spoke before millions at the 9-12 National Taxpayer March on Washington and Tea Party;
•    And was endorsed by the Club for Growth.  

Earlier this month Graves was named to Georgia Trend’s “40 under 40” Most Influential Georgians, and his campaign continues to have the largest online presence of any candidate in the congressional race.  

The campaign currently has over 350 grassroots volunteers and is organized in all 15 counties of the district.  

“I’ve made a commitment to work hard and earn the trust of the voters throughout the 9th District.  This campaign will be about the right values, the right solutions and what is right for Georgia and I’m honored that so many North Georgians are joining our effort,” added Graves.

Graves announced last May that he would seek the 9th District congressional seat left open by Congressman Nathan Deal’s decision to run for Governor.