Bob is Broke. Stefanowski Reports $153k As of 8/31.

Self-funding Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski is running low on dough. His campaign reports that on August 31st, two weeks after his primary win in a field of five candidates, the payday loan and pawn shop executive had $153,000 on hand with $39,000 in unpaid bills.

Stefanowski has been busy working the phones for contributions and fundraising event sponsors. Follow-up has been a challenge for the lightly staffed campaign. Stefanowski ran his primary race as an outsider dismissive of the party organization. Some of those sentiments may be causing reliable Republican givers to concentrate their efforts on winning the legislature.

The campaign continues to carry a $2,250,000 loan to the candidate.

The Stefanowski campaign appears to understand the damage the finance report may do. It was filed at 11:58 p.m. Thursday, two hours before the deadline to submit it.

Democrat Ned Lamont, who has spent tens of millions of his fortunes on two previous campaigns, had $396,000 in the bank. The Greenwich millionaire is expected to continue fueling his campaign for governor.