NM-02: McCamley Makes Extraordinary Loan to Campaign!

McCamley announces loan at campaign HQ this morning

I reported earlier today, as breaking news, that the McCamley campaign would be unveiling something unique this morning.  Now it's official. Bill McCamley made an extra-special and highly symbolic $47.50 loan to his campaign today. He's also asking his many grassroots supporters to make a campaign contribution in that same amount to help offset the hundreds of thousands of dollars his primary rival, Harry Teague, has tossed into his own campaign coffers. Click to (or any amount you can afford) to McCamley's campaign.

I'm a big admirer of McCamley and the feisty (and successful) campaign he's been running. Bill's campaign loan provides a clever commentary on the difficulties a grassroots candidate faces when going up against a monied opponent with insider political ties and numerous colleagues in the oil business. The question that naturally comes to mind is, what will all that oil money really buy? Do you realize that you may be contributing to McTeague's campaign, in a way, simply by filling up your vehicle? Read all about it:

LAS CRUCES – Today Congressional candidate and Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley announced that he has loaned $47.50 to his campaign in a ceremony at his headquarters in Las Cruces. This follows one day after McCamley’s opponent, oil industry executive Harry Teague, loaned his campaign $475,000.

McCamley with THE CHECK

“I am not a millionaire oil industry executive, but I am pleased to provide my campaign with this contribution,” said McCamley. “With gas prices reaching new records every day, this $47.50 will almost pay for our campaign’s next tank of gas as we take our message of fixing Washington for the middle class across the Second District.”

Gas prices hit another national record high last week of $3.60 a gallon, according to Reuters.

“Just remember, every time you see a TV ad from Mr. Teague, you’re paying for it at the pump,” said McCamley. “Gas prices are just one of the many economic challenges that are hurting middle class families and workers throughout New Mexico and across the nation. We need someone in Washington who will stand up to the oil companies and the other special interests to make government work for the people again.”

McCamley’s contribution is exactly one 10,000th of Teague’s recent contributions. After the ceremony, McCamley announced he would be asking his supporters to contribute an additional $47.50 to his campaign.

McCamley’s campaign website is www.billmccamley.com.

Note: Matthew Reichbach at The New Mexico Independent has an excellent article about techniques being used by candidates this year to try and make it fun for small donors to participate. McCamley's campaign loan to himself today is another example.

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