White hauls in $233K during first quarter of 2008

Republican Darren White raised $233,509 for his First Congressional District bid during the first quarter of 2008, and he begins the second quarter of the year with about $300,000 on hand, according to a news release from his campaign.

White is the first federal candidate from New Mexico to publicly release information about his first-quarter fundraising. Candidates must file reports with the Federal Election Commission by Tuesday.

White, during the fourth quarter of 2007 – his first in the race – raised just under $213,000, so he surpassed that during the first three months of 2008. In the newest quarter, according to the news release, 96 percent of White’s contributions came from New Mexicans, with 78 percent of his contributors giving less than $100.

“We are picking up momentum, and the strong grassroots support demonstrates that New Mexicans are ready to shake up Washington with honest, independent leadership,” White said.

White will receive additional aid from a national Republican group. According to an article in CQ Politics, he’s one of 10 Republican candidates across the nation who the GOP’s Regain Our Majority Program has listed this year as being in difficult races and in need of extra money.

Though White has a primary opponent – Joe Carraro – many Republicans, including the Republican National Committee, have already lined up behind White. White won the party’s preprimary nominating convention last month with 85 percent of the vote.