With only days left to the election, both sides of the marriage amendment fight continue to draw millions of dollars in contributions, surpassing $13 million overall.
While the voter ID amendment still trails at $3.7 million, in the past month, both sides have more than doubled their funds.
Voter ID amendment supporter, ProtectMyVote.com, received a $1 million boost in October from one donor: Joan Cummins, who is married to major GOP contributor Robert Cummins.
Her contributions to the group total $1.3 million, comprising the vast majority of the group’s total $1.45 million.
Marriage amendment opponents continue to outpace supporters of the measure that would
constitutionally define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Minnesotans United for All Families, the main opponents, raised more than $2.75 million since the September report, bringing its total to almost $10 million.
Minnesota for Marriage, meanwhile, reported $3.6 million in contributions from Jan. 1 through Oct. 22, the cutoff date for this report. As of press time, the full Minnesota for Marriage report was not yet available.
Public Policy Polling found Minnesotans were deeply divided on the amendment in early October, with 49 percent planning to oppose it and 46 percent planning to support it.
Both groups have funneled money into TV ads, talking with voters and staffing campaigns. MN United has launched five different TV ads, and Minnesota for Marriage has four.
MN United spokeswoman Kate Brickman said the group paid for TV ads for the final week before the election “quite a while ago” and will be using funds this week to continue operations around the state.
MN United had $309,200 left on hand as of Oct. 22 and is still receiving contributions.
Voter ID
While other campaigns have spent most of their money, ProtectMyVote.com still has about $960,000 left on hand.
The lead group opposing the voter ID amendment, Our Vote Our Future, only has about $178,000 left on hand but has out-raised and far outspent the amendment’s supporters. Of $2.26 million raised, the group has spent $2.08 million.
Supporters of the voter ID amendment have an edge in polls, with Public Policy Polling finding voters split 51 to 43 in support.
