It has been one week since candidates qualified for the New Orleans mayoral race, and UNO pollster Dr. Ed Chervenak says the top tier of candidates is starting to take shape.
Helena Moreno, Royce Duplessis, and Oliver Thomas have all reported strong fundraising gains, setting them apart as frontrunners in the race.
Chervenak says Moreno has increased her war chest by nearly half a million dollars, bringing in another $460,000.
"Royce Duplessis brought in over $200,000 and Oliver Thomas over $300,000 in the latest report."
According to Dr. Chervenak, Moreno continues to lead in terms of cash on hand, a critical factor in a mayoral bid.
“It takes north of a million dollars to run a serious campaign,” Chervenak said. “Moreno announced first, and she’s been consistent in staying ahead, especially with the launch of her ad campaign this week.”
Still, Chervenak notes that most voters aren’t fully tuned in just yet. He says the race will likely pick up momentum after Labor Day, when public interest increases and campaigns ramp up their visibility and outreach.
“Right now, the groundwork is being laid,” Chervenak said. “But the real campaign push begins once summer ends.”