Fundraising and Web 2.0 update for Florida Senate race

Progress Florida’s Jon Bleyer took the time to compile some very interesting statistics about how the major candidates for statewide office fundraising efforts compare with their Internet and social networking footprints entering 2010. Here are his findings and analysis:

Charlie Crist-R:
Fundraising: $8.7 million ($2 million in 4th Q) raised for 2009; $7.5 m COH
Facebook: 7,873 supporters
Twitter: 3,796 followers (Tweeter Meter: 5)
YouTube: 37 subscribers, 3,759 upload views
Campaign website: http://charliecrist.com/

Marco Rubio-R:
Fundraising: $3.4 million ($1.75 million in 4Q) raised for 2009; $2 million COH
Facebook: 10,330 supporters; also has Group with 4,741 members
Twitter: 7,354 followers (Tweeter Meter: 6)
YouTube: 453 subscribers; 284,250 upload views
Campaign website: http://marcorubio.com/

Kendrick Meek-D:
Fundraising: $4.5 million ($1.2 million in 4Q) raised; $3.3 million COH
Facebook: 7,493 supporters; also has Group with 6,022 members
Twitter: 1,548 followers (Tweeter Meter: 3)
YouTube: 38 subscribers, 4,517 upload views
Campaign website: http://www.kendrickmeek.com/

Analysis: Gov. Crist’s sagging popularity, along with Rubio’s growing momentum, seems to have finally put a dent in Crist’s fundraising – at least a small one. His total of just over $2 million is less than the $2.4 million he raised the previous quarter, and well below his juggernaut $4.3 million from the 2nd quarter of 2009. It is interesting to note that when this race appeared to be Crist’s to lose, his fundraising totals were breaking records – now that polls suggest the GOP primary to be a tossup, his donors may have become skiddish. Can Rubio’s grassroots appeal and web organizing translate into greater fundraising? With Crist having nearly four times as much cash on hand, the former House Speaker is going to need it. That said, for all of Crist’s fundraising prowess much of his money raised is earmarked for general election use — meaning he is hamstrung in terms of what he can spend in his hotly-contested primary against Rubio. Meanwhile Sen. Meek, unencumbered by any serious intra-party challenge, has established a formidable Internet presence that the campaign already credits with helping expand his donor base, and he appears well-positioned to take on whichever candidate emerges from the bruising GOP primary.