Cuccinelli
Brownlee
CENTREVILLE, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Republican candidates for Virginia's Attorney General post are saying that their campaigns are on the right financial track.
Ken Cuccinelli, currently a state senator, said he has raised more than $125,000 for the campaign finance reporting period that ended June 30, adding to the more than $110,000 he already has.
"Conservatives are responding to my record of defending life, protecting our communities, preserving Constitutional rights and fighting to reign in the size of government," said Cuccinelli, who raised more than $1.2 million in his state Senate campaign last year.
"I'm very excited about the early enthusiasm we've been generating across the Commonwealth."
Tuesday was the deadline to file campaign finance disclosure reports with the state's Board of Elections.
Cuccinelli is facing former U.S. Attorney John Brownlee in the 2009 primary. Brownlee is best known for his criminal prosecution of prescription drug manufacturer Purdue Pharma, which resulted in fines of more than $600 million against the company.
Brownlee has raised nearly $100,000 since announcing his candidacy a little more than a month ago.
The two are trying to replace current Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican who is running for Governor next year.
Cuccinelli is a business law attorney and partner in the law firm Cuccinelli & Day in Fairfax. He was first elected to the state Senate in 2002 in a special election, and current Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling was present at his Aug. swearing-in ceremony.
McDonnell has stated his desire to have Bolling as his Lt. Gov. if he is elected.
Brownlee was one of several U.S. Attorneys named on President Bush's firing list and testified that he was told he was on it because he would not back off the prosecution of Purdue Pharma. Bush had appointed him to the post in 2001.
Cuccinelli said more than 30 Republican unit chairmen, 17 members of the House of Delegates and six Senators have endorsed his campaign.
"Getting those convention delegates is what it's all about right now," Cuccinelli said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.