Mumpower trails Shuler in money race

GOP candidate Carl Mumpower has been thoroughly trounced so far by incumbent U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville when it comes to raising money for their fall match-up.

As of June 30, Mumpower had $906 cash on hand and debts of $25,471, according to campaign finance reports. Mumpower raised $47,614 in individual contributions and loaned the campaign $21,200. Shuler reported $964,950 cash on hand and spent $63,935. He raised $288,714.

Mumpower has criticized Shuler’s fundraising efforts, saying a large amount of the congressman’s money comes from outside the district. Mumpower has pledged not to take money from political action committees and the Republican Party.

“I am not going to buy a seat in Congress,” Mumpower said. The Asheville City Council member says he has between $8,000 and $10,000 cash on hand now. The money came from individual donations and not loans to the campaign, he said.

“I have raised some money since then,” Mumpower said. “I would tell you, but I can’t recall exactly.”

Getting on board

Mumpower met Monday night with Republican leaders from across the district over his insistence that they commit to a list of 10 Republican principles.

Mumpower, an Asheville city councilman and psychologist, said Monday he would suspend his campaign if fellow Republicans don’t support his list of principles. The list includes priciples such as individual rights, freedom, responsibility, equal opportunity, free enterprise and limited government. He also said he would set up a mechanism for challenging Republican politicians who do not follow them.

The 11th District Congressional Republican Committee voted Monday night to ask a majority of the Republican county chairmen to get behind Mumpower’s “Principles First” campaign, the candidate said. Calls to several GOP leaders were not immediately returned.

Despite what Mumpower termed a “contentious meeting,” the committee voted unanimously to support the campaign, Mumpower said. “We had a victory last night,” he said.

In recent weeks, Mumpower has challenged elected Republican officials for not upholding conservative principles of the party. His sparring with GOP leaders, including suggesting that President Bush be impeached for not enforcing laws against illegal immigration, got him kicked off the Polk County Republican float at the Coon Dog Day Parade.

Mumpower says he will put his campaign on hold, not speaking at Republican events or raising more money, until he gets support from at least eight county GOP leaders.

Buncombe and Swain counties have formally supported the campaign, he said.

Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said Mumpower has to be careful with his approach. “Being the political maverick can be a good strategy, but you are walking a fine line,” Knotts said. “You can alienate the base.”

The average congressional campaign costs about $1 million. Candidates can have a hard time getting a message out to the public if they lack funds. A candidate needs money to create mailers and pay for advertising.

“It would be very difficult for a candidate, and Shuler doesn’t seem like a vulnerable candidate,” Knotts said.