Gary Moore, Boone County Judge Executive, Is Leading GOP Fundraiser In Kentucky's 4Th District. Y'all Know I'm With Gary, Right!?

Moore leading GOP fundraiser in Ky. 4th District

Republican Gary Moore was the top GOP fundraiser in Kentucky's 4th District congressional race in the first three months of the year, documents filed with the Federal Election Commission show.

Moore, now serving as Boone County judge-executive, filed a campaign finance report Sunday showing he raised $238,000 between Jan. 1 and March 31, and that he still has nearly $200,000 in the bank.

His closest competitor, Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie, reported nearly $153,000 in donations and an $80,000 personal loan, bringing his total to $232,000. He reported $157,000 cash on hand.

Alecia Webb-Edgington, a state lawmaker from Fort Wright, reported $116,000 raised and $100,000 cash on hand. And Crestwood building contractor Walter Schumm reported $29,000 raised and a $10,000 personal loan. He reported $14,000 still in the bank. The FEC didn't have fundraising reports for three other candidates in the race.

University of Louisville political scientist Dewey Clayton said the Moore campaign will likely get a boost from the fundraising reports.

"Whether warranted or not, you get the frontrunner sort of moniker when you're the top fundraiser," Clayton said. "That helps with additional fundraising."

However, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul endorsed Massie on Friday, generating a flurry of campaign contributions over the weekend.

Massie campaign chairman Phil Moffett said the tea party darling received more than 200 contributions totaling $12,000 from 47 states since Paul encouraged tea party activists to get involved in the race on Friday.

Paul's endorsement is expected to fatten the Massie campaign's bank account heading into the final weeks before the May 22 primary.

Paul, the father of Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, released a statement Friday saying Massie "deserves your support right now."

"Thomas Massie has been a part of our revolution for years," Paul said in the statement.

"And he was invaluable to my son Rand when he ran for office, taking an early interest in Rand's race, helping him meet folks in his area, raising money, campaigning," Ron Paul said in the statement. "You name it; Thomas did it for Rand's race in 2010."