Attorney General Jim Hood’s most recent campaign finance report filed last week reveals only $16,652 cash-on-hand after spending nearly $100,000 last year, mostly on credit cards disclosed as miscellaneous campaign expenses. The report covers fundraising and campaign spending for 2014.
As of this writing, Hood – the only statewide elected Democrat in Mississippi – has yet to announce his intentions for 2015, whether he’ll seek re-election, pursue a higher office, or neither. The report indicates neither.
His campaign war chest is a shadow of what he banked for re-election last cycle. He began 2011 with $402,379, raised an additional $1.3 million and spent $1.6 million to win with 61 percent of the vote over Republican Steve Simpson.
Contrast Hood’s 16 grand with Gov. Phil Bryant who reported $2.44 million cash-on-hand, followed by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves with $2.35 million in the bank and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann whose campaign disclosed just over $1 million.
In past campaigns – to little avail – Republicans criticized Hood for a cozy relationship with outside contingency-fee lawyers who would sue companies on behalf of the state (with state subpoena and investigative power) to force a settlement and collect sometimes millions of dollars for themselves. Many were campaign contributors to Hood.
Madison County Journal
2/4/15
Magnolia Tribune
