Ehrlich would start race with little campaign cash

If he runs for governor again, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) will start the race with a relatively depleted bank account, a report filed Wednesday confirmed.

The former governor reported having only $141,778.90 cash on hand, following a year in which his campaign organization spent slightly more than it raised.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), by contrast, started the 2010 election year with more than $5.7 million in the bank, according to aides. His report was not publicly available as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Ehrlich aides telegraphed last week that raising money had not been a focus during the past year. Boosters of the former governor say he could jump-start his fundraising very quickly if he decides to seek a rematch with O'Malley. Still, O'Malley is starting the year with a significant advantage.

Larry Hogan, a GOP hopeful who said he will not run for governor if Ehrlich gets in the race, reported having more than $320,000 in the bank -- more than Ehrlich. Hogan's account was bolstered by $325,000 in personal loans to his campaign, which he disclosed to The Post over the weekend. Hogan, a real-estate broker who served as Ehrlich's appointments secretary, also reported raising about $22,000 from other sources.

Ehrlich reported about $76,000 in contributions during the past year -- and about $86,000 in expenditures. The largest of the reported expenditures, $21,500, was paid to Public Opinion Strategies, a polling firm.

George W. Owings III, a former state veterans affairs secretary who is challenging O'Malley in the Democratic primary, reported having $2,435.34 in the bank. Owings launched his long-shot campaign earlier this month.