Cook out-fundraises Rep. Rohrabacher

Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook has raised more money than Rep. Dana Rohrabacher for the second straight quarter according to the Federal Election Commission, but the Rohrabacher campaign is not worried.

Cook’s campaign calls the funding push evidence of strong grassroots support and believes it signals a turn in the tides of the 46th district, which has elected Republican incumbent Rohrabacher for the past two decades.

“I don’t think that anyone anywhere in the country would expect a challenger to out-raise a 10-term incumbent congressman. That’s a plus no matter how you look at it,” said Cook campaign spokesman Joe Shaw.

Despite Cook out-fundraising Rohrabacher in recent months, Rohrabacher has close to four times as much total cash on hand.

His campaign says his views on taxes and immigration are more aligned with the residents of the cities in his district and that funding has not been as important in past races.

“History in this district has shown that money spent, let alone money raised, does not determine the outcome of these races,” said Rohrabacher Campaign spokeswoman Phaedra Dugan.

Dugan said Rohrabacher has been outspent by Democratic challengers before and he emerged victorious.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].