Fundraising gap narrows between Conservatives, Liberals
OTTAWA — The results of headto-head fundraising campaigns by the federal Liberal and Conservative parties show the financial gap between the two has narrowed considerably, with momentum swinging toward the Liberals.
A post on the Conservative party’s website Sunday revealed the party had raised $5.2 million in the final quarter of 2013, bringing the yearly total to $18 million.
Party president John Walsh lauded Conservative supporters for bringing the party to its best-ever showing in a non-election year, but the results also shows its lead over the Liberal party is weakening.
On Friday, the Liberal’s revealed an aggressive fundraising campaign raised a record $4.3 million during the last quarter of 2013. And a head-to-head fundraising battle waged by both parties in December saw the Liberals trounce the Conservatives in online fundraising, reaching $1.6 million versus $600,000 for the Conservatives.
The governing party exceeded its total $2 million goal under December’s Seize the Moment campaign, but the Liberal’s also surpassed expectations, reaping $2.9 million.
The New Democratic Party also beat the Conservatives in end-ofyear online fundraising. Party spokesman Nathan Rotman said Sunday the NDP surpassed its December goal of raising $750,000. The party has not released its Q4 results.
The Liberals’ fundraising gains mean the party will have deeper financial reserves with which to purchase political ads and fund its campaign machine ahead of the 2015 federal election. The results may also indicate an upsurge in political engagement among the supporters of the party, now in third place for seats in the House of Commons.