Governor Hopeful's Odd Cash Request Raises Eyebrows

INDIANAPOLIS -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson is asking for an odd amount of cash, prompting questions about the specificity of the request.

Jill Long Thompson said she needed $4,755 by midnight Monday -- at least that's what her e-mail to potential donors said.

Theories abounded Monday about the request and what significance the money might have, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

"A couple of things are happening. Either A -- kind of the conventional wisdom is they're trying to reach a magic number and they want a nice big, round number," said 6News political analyst Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. "Or No. 2 -- they're just trying to draw attention to themselves and they've already got the cash on hand."

"I thought it was a little strange, but I will say this -- I probably got five of these last-minute appeals in the last 24 hours and hers is the one that got my attention," said 6News political analyst Jennifer Wagner. "It was such a strange amount and a strange thing to request."

Long Thompson's campaign aides said they needed just shy of $5,000 to reach a specific donation figure by Monday night's donor reporting deadline.

They wouldn't say what the amount is, but they are hoping it is large enough to impress future donors that she can pose a legitimate threat to incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels.

"We're trying to put together the best showing we can in Jill's race for governor," said Jeff Harris, of Long Thompson's campaign. "We feel very good about where we are, and this is just … a last-minute push to get our finances up as best we can."

Daniels' campaign staff didn't comment on the Long Thompson request, but said their own fundraising efforts were going well.

Daniels is currently running television ads, which aides said are paid for in advance for the next two months. Long Thompson is not currently advertising on television.