The wad report

Each election cycle, the cost of running a statewide campaign reaches greater and greater heights. Plus, the election cycles begin earlier and earlier. State Treasurer Phil Angelides, for example, began campaigning against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pretty much the day after 2003’s recall election.

The race for the governor’s office is “officially” under way. So, Democratic hopefuls are advertising how much cash they’ve raised, insinuating that their check-collecting prowess is somehow indicative of their campaign’s viability.

The candidates recently filed campaign-finance reports showing how much dough they have—cash raised minus cash already spent—four months out from June’s Democratic primary.

State Controller Steve Westly
Cash on hand: $24,081,711.98
Unpaid bills: $137,004.97

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Cash on hand: $147,205.56
Unpaid bills: $803,337.43

Republican candidate Darrell Issa
Cash on hand: $0
Unpaid bills: $0

Green Party candidate Peter Camejo
Cash on hand: $262.26
Unpaid bills: $0

Democratic candidate Edie Bukewihge
Cash on hand: has not filed with the secretary of state
Unpaid bills: has not filed with the secretary of state