WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, is nearly matching his expected congressional rival in fundraising thus far in 2012.
Landry raised more than $325,000 for the first three months of 2012, which nearly compares to the more than $346,000 raised in the first quarter by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, according to new records released Monday.
Because of congressional redistricting, Boustany and Landry would have to challenge each other in the redrawn 3rd district that makes up southwestern Louisiana, including much of Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes.
However, Landry has not yet officially announced he is in the race.
While Landry has now raised more than $1 million total, Boustany still holds a solid edge in cash on hand for campaigning with more than $1.5 million reported compared to Landry’s $820,000.
Boustany had a fundraising head start because Landry, a freshman congressman, largely depleted his funds during his successful 2010 race.
Landry also is seizing on the fact that 86 percent of his funds raised come from individual contributors, while 46 percent of Boustany’s dollars have come from political action committees.
“It is clear here in Acadiana there is one career congressman politician who is taking huge amounts of cash from inside Washington special interests and there is another who is receiving tremendous support from right here with the people in Louisiana,” Landry said in a prepared statement Monday.
Boustany did not respond Monday to a request for comment.
Pearson Cross, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette political science chairman, said Boustany is the de-facto incumbent in the race because more than two-thirds of the constituency of the new 3rd district is made of up of Boustany’s current 7th district.
As such, Cross said Landry may need to surpass Boustany in fundraising in order to stand a solid chance of winning.
The open primary election is scheduled for Nov. 6.
