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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowRepublican Mike Pence and Democrat John Gregg are heading into the key stretch of the Indiana governor's race with strong bankrolls.
Pence had $5.5 million in the bank as of July 1 and Gregg had $3 million. The campaigns released their fundraising tallies for the three-month stretch from April through June on Monday.
Gregg began closing a massive fundraising gap by raising $1.8 million in the last quarter. Indiana Democrats say his choice of state Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson as a running mate has helped with fundraising.
Pence reported raising $3 million in the same time span. One-third of that came in a single donation from the Republican Governor's Association.
Money will play a greater role in the months ahead as the campaigns begin spending more on campaign commercials.
Pence received $1 million from the RGA Ohio Political Action Committee, which is a super PAC funded by the Republican Governors Association.
Anthony Moravec, who owns a pharmaceutical company and Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor in Columbus, gave him $100,000. So did Crown Point billionaire Dean White.
Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle gave $50,000.
BrightPoint Inc. gave $20,000 through its political action committee, Brightpoint Eclipse. J. Mark Howell, president of Americas at BrightPoint, gave $10,000.
Other local executives giving $10,000 or more were Samuel Sato, president of the Finish Line brand; James Dora, CEO of Indianapolis-based General Hotels Corp.; Dane A. Miller, retired founder of Biomet; Mike Weaver, CEO of Weaver Popcorn Co. The Wellpoint PAC also gave $10,000.
Several local businessmen gave $5,000. They were venture capitalist John Ackerman, Michael Petrie, president of P/R Mortgage and Investment Corp., and John Kite, CEO of Kite Realty Group Trust.
Gregg received $250,000 from I-PACE, the political action committee of the Indiana State Teachers Association. Some of his largest union donors were Springfield, Ill.-based Midwest Regional Laborers Political League, which gave $200,000 and the United Auto Workers Region 3, which gave $50,000.
Herb Simon, co-founder of Simon Property Group and owner of the Indiana Pacers, gave $15,000. His nieces Deborah Simon and Cindy Simon Skjodt each gave $50,000.
David B. Becker, entrepreneur and founder of First Internet Bank, gave $10,000, as did Indianapolis arts philanthropist Ann Stack and the Beer Industry PAC, an arm of the beer wholesaler’s group, Indiana Beverage Alliance.
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