Boustany touts fundraising
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, on Thursday touted raising nearly $740,000 in the second quarter of 2012 to more than double the amount he picked up during the first three months of the year.
The funds could strengthen his standing against his opponent, Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, who was forced into the same 3rd Congressional District as Boustany because of redistricting caused by the state losing one congressional seat becausseof a population decline.
Boustany reported he now has more than $1.9 million in cash on hand for campaigning leading to the November election.
Landry had $820,000 in cash on hand at the end of March, but he has not yet reported his second-quarter numbers.
“My campaign received nearly 1,000 donations, with the vast majority coming from individuals living in South Louisiana,” Boustany said in his announcement. “This serves as evidence of the broad and deep support I am receiving from the large, grassroots coalition we’re putting together.”
Landry did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
The redrawn 3rd District encompasses southwestern Louisiana, including much of Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes. The political race with the Nov. 6 open primary election does not yet have an announced Democratic contenders.
Boustany, a 56-year-old former heart surgeon, has eight years in Congress, and is noted for his ties with U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the party leadership. Boustany said he has “never wavered” in his re-election.
Landry, a 41-year-old politician, lawyer and businessman, rode the tea party wave in Louisiana in 2010 to defeat former Louisiana House Speaker Hunt Downer for the congressional seat.
Landry raised more than $325,000 for the first three months of 2012, compared with the more than $346,000 Boustany raised in the first quarter.
While Landry collected more than $1 million total through March, Boustany still held a solid edge in cash on hand for campaigning, with more than $1.5 million reported, compared with Landry’s $820,000 after the first quarter.
Boustany had a fundraising head start because Landry largely depleted his funds during his successful 2010 race.
Boustany also spent more than $300,000 in campaign funds during the second quarter.
As of late Thursday afternoon, the Federal Election Commission had not yet posted Boustany’s updated fundraising totals.