Gov. Pat McCrory and Attorney General Roy Cooper, the Democrat challenging McCrory in this year’s gubernatorial election, have reported close fundraising numbers for the second half of 2016. Cooper reported having collected $2.9 million in the second half of 2015, which is roughly $300,000 more than McCrory who reported raising $2.6 million in the same time. This report, which was released Wednesday, is the second in a row that revealed Cooper outraising McCrory’s campaign. At the beginning of the year, McCrory reported having $4.1 million total in campaign funds, trailing Cooper’s total by about $800,000. While McCrory and Cooper are the frontrunners in the race, McCrory still must beat two challengers in the March 15 primary, including former state Rep. Robert Brawley. Cooper also must face Ken Spaulding, a Durham lawyer and former lawmaker.
