Portman campaign claims fundraising record

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) raised $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, building on a sizeable cash advantage over his rival for Senate, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D).

Portman raised $9.8 million total in 2015, which his campaign touted as a record for any candidate running for office in Ohio in an off-year. The campaign said the previous high was current Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican presidential candidate, who raised $6.5 million in 2013.

Portman ended the year with $12 million in cash on hand, which will make him among the most well-funded incumbents seeking reelection to the Senate.

{mosads}”Raising nearly $10 million in one year is not only a record in Ohio, it is a testament to the strong support for Rob,” said campaign manager Corry Bliss. “In the same period, campaign volunteers also contacted a record 1,000,000 targeted voters through our door and phone program, demonstrating the tremendous grassroots strength behind Rob.”

Strickland’s campaign has not released his fundraising numbers yet, but his early efforts have lagged. The former governor raised less than $1 million in the third quarter and finished with only about $1.5 million in the bank.

Portman is among the top targets for Democrats heading into 2016 as they seek to reclaim a majority in the Senate. Despite his considerable cash advantage, Portman faces tough reelection prospects in a critical battleground state in a year when turnout is expected to favor Democrats.

Still, he’s run among the most impressive reelection campaigns to date.

The campaign has been putting its cash advantage to work, releasing nearly a dozen digital ads this cycle as part of a six-figure ad buy. Portman is also benefitting from heavy spending from outside conservative groups.

He has marshaled the support of his colleagues in Congress, turning out most of Ohio’s GOP House delegation to knock on doors for him alongside hundreds of activists in a coordinated voter contact effort.

Democrats have acknowledged they’ll be outspent in the race but insist they’ll have enough cash to be competitive on the airwaves. They also say that Portman’s furious fundraising efforts and early get-out-the-vote operations are a sign of panic.

Polls show a tight race, with Strickland leading by a half-point in the RealClearPolitics average.