Fundraising in Md. Governor's Race Reverse of '06

Based on an analysis of newly filed campaign finance reports, the researchers find that the Ehrlich campaign has raised a larger percentage of its contributions from individuals (72 percent) than O'Malley, for whom individuals accounted for only 60 percent of contributions. This is a reversal from 2006, when O'Malley relied more heavily on individual contributions, and less heavily on interest groups, than Ehrlich.

"In most elections, incumbents enjoy certain fundraising advantages over challengers, such as the ability to raise large amounts of money from organized interest groups," explains University of Maryland researcher Paul Herrnson, who directs the Center for American Politics and Citizenship. "Ehrlich enjoyed this advantage as the incumbent during the 2006 campaign, and the reversed roles of the current campaign seem to be benefiting O'Malley."