Stewart Mills, the “Fleet Farm” owner and candidate for the CD8 House seat that’s changed hands twice since 2010, is putting up some righteous fundraising numbers:
Republican Stewart Mills III of Nisswa formally declared his candidacy for 8th district congress just last week, but came out strong Tuesday, releasing a third quarter fundraising report reflecting contributions nearly double the amount raised by DFL Rep. Rick Nolan of Crosby. Mills raised $243,826 for his bid to unseat the incumbant, while Nolan posted receipts of just $129,472, falling short of his second quarter total of $134,764 despite a strong last minute push from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Steve Israel and the DCCC just before the fundraising deadline of Sep. 30.
Nolan received slightly more unitemized individual contributions, reporting $19,497 to Mills’ $19,198, but Mills trounced Nolan in itemized individual contributions, both in number of donors and in dollar amounts. Mills racked up contributions of $218,128 compared to just $48,075 for Nolan. Analysis of individual contributions reveals that Mills raised more money from inside the 8th district, while Nolan raised the bulk of his money from donors outside Minnesota.
And only about $5,000 of Mills’ total is self-financed, so far.
This is going to be a long, expensive campaign. Both sides are targeting it. But so far, Mills is rocking the phones – and it’s getting noticed.
He should run a campaign ad holding a rifle or shotgun saying “Say goodbye to Rick Nolan or say goodbye to your guns.” Attack head-on right now. Might as well, the media will do everything in its power to defeat him anyway.
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I do love how the media is doing everything in their power to identify him as wealthy – whether it’s calling him “deep-pocketed” (the Star Tribune) or even the above quoted article which refers to him as “Stewart Mills III.” Is that his full name? Yes, but I haven’t seen him use the “III” anywhere. Why not simply call him Thurston Howell the III with much, much better hair?
Why not simply call him Thurston Howell the III with much, much better hair?
That’s the secret, FR — he’s got that Fabio bodice-ripper thing going. Meanwhile, Rick Nolan would like you to get the hell off his porch.
I was sitting at a table with a couple of famously straight-laced female conservatives a few months ago, when Mills’ candidacy was still a rumor.
“He’s hot”, said several of them.
About Mills. Not Nolan.
So War on Women.
That’s good news in my humble opinion. Nolan sort of rose from the dead like Lautenberg, at at time when I believe some 218-ers were feeling guilty for Oberstar’s tearful tantrum. I was hoping it would turn out like the similar situation involving Mondale. Too bad.
Cravaack was an excellent candidate, but I think he was a little too metrosexual for some far north voters. At least he put a stake in Oberstar’s heart, like Ventura did to Skip.
I think Mills fills the gaps that Cravaack may have had. Hopefully he’ll do well. However, I grew up hearing two things: work all the overtime they offer and the rich are bad. That explains a lot about me.
Didn’t you see Nolan’s obligatory campaign ad, in which he was dressed in hunting gear, carrying a semi-auto Remington hunting rifle? Probably caught him on the way to pick up Kerry and head up to the shack. No reason for the gun crowd to worry about him.
I didn’t realize that he was running, so even though I don’t live in the 8th, I’m donating!
By the way, I shop at Mills frequently and the employees seem happy to be there.