No Fundraising Agreement in Lt. Governor’s Race

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(Host) The three major party candidates in the lieutenant governor’s race are exchanging sharp words after an effort to limit spending for their campaign fell through. Two weeks ago, Republican candidate Brian Dubie called on his opponents, Democrat Peter Shumlin and Progressive Anthony Pollina, to cap spending in their race at $100,000.

Pollina was interested in the idea but Shumlin was not. Pollina says Shumlin rejected the plan because Shumlin wants to raise a lot of money for this race:

(Pollina) “One thing we do know for sure is that Mr. Shumlin has in the past taken significant amounts of money both from corporations and from national political parties that pass through contributions from corporations. And I think those are the kinds of campaign fundraising tactics that really turn people off, not just the campaign but turn people off to politics.”

(Host) Shumlin says he’s at a disadvantage because both Pollina and Dubie ran as statewide candidates in the last election. Shumlin says he’s also concerned that some special interest groups, like the national drug industry, are going to target his campaign for defeat:

(Shumlin) “This isn’t on the level and Vermonters are going to see right through it. I see this as an unholy alliance, but it’s not surprising given their history. I mean let’s face it, they’ve both been hypocrites on the issue of campaign finance. One called it – Brian Dubie – ‘welfare for politicians’ two years ago and a limit on free speech. Anthony Pollina filed a federal suit to overturn a law that he’d worked as a paid lobbyist to advocate for, when it didn’t meet his needs.”

(Host) Since no agreement was reached among the three candidates, Pollina and Dubie say they will now raise as much money as they need in order to run a competitive campaign this year.

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