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The biggest spender didn't win governor's race
Benson, Lynch paid total of $5.3 million out of pocket
By DANIEL BARRICK
Concord Monitor Staff
November12. 2004 8:00AM
The race between the two multimillionaire candidates lived up to its billing, as Gov. Craig Benson and Gov.-elect John Lynch combined to spend $5.3 million of their own money in the campaign for governor. But this year, the bigger spender didn't come out on top.
Lynch, the Hopkinton Democrat who defeated Benson at the polls last week, spent $3 million over the course of the campaign, $2.1 million of it from his own pocket.
Benson, the first-term incumbent, spent $4.5 million trying to defend his seat. Benson spent $3.2 million of his own money in the campaign, much less than the estimated $12 million he spent two years ago in a successful effort to win a three-way Republican primary.
Both candidates spent the bulk of their campaign cash on television and radio advertising. In the final week of the race, Benson spent nearly $200,000 on ads, telemarketing and direct mail expenses. Lynch spent $435,000 on advertising and telemarketing in the same final week period.
The fundraising and spending amounts were disclosed in the final round of reports candidates are required to make to the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office.
Both Lynch and Benson are independently wealthy businessmen who made the governor's office their first run for elected office. Lynch defeated Benson in a tightly fought contest, edging out the incumbent by just 2 percentage points. The loss makes Benson the first sitting governor to be denied a second term in office in nearly 80 years.
Lynch's inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 6.
The biggest spender didn't win governor's race
Benson, Lynch paid total of $5.3 million out of pocket
By DANIEL BARRICK
Concord Monitor Staff
November12. 2004 8:00AM
The race between the two multimillionaire candidates lived up to its billing, as Gov. Craig Benson and Gov.-elect John Lynch combined to spend $5.3 million of their own money in the campaign for governor. But this year, the bigger spender didn't come out on top.
Lynch, the Hopkinton Democrat who defeated Benson at the polls last week, spent $3 million over the course of the campaign, $2.1 million of it from his own pocket.
Benson, the first-term incumbent, spent $4.5 million trying to defend his seat. Benson spent $3.2 million of his own money in the campaign, much less than the estimated $12 million he spent two years ago in a successful effort to win a three-way Republican primary.
Both candidates spent the bulk of their campaign cash on television and radio advertising. In the final week of the race, Benson spent nearly $200,000 on ads, telemarketing and direct mail expenses. Lynch spent $435,000 on advertising and telemarketing in the same final week period.
The fundraising and spending amounts were disclosed in the final round of reports candidates are required to make to the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office.
Both Lynch and Benson are independently wealthy businessmen who made the governor's office their first run for elected office. Lynch defeated Benson in a tightly fought contest, edging out the incumbent by just 2 percentage points. The loss makes Benson the first sitting governor to be denied a second term in office in nearly 80 years.
Lynch's inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 6.
