Paule Campaign Makes Hasty Fundraising Claim

A State Assembly District 67 candidate sent out an email blast earlier this month claiming he's pulled ahead in the race to raise campaign funds, but his camp may have jumped the gun.

, who is running this year against candidates that include two Lake Elsinore City Council members -- and -- touted in the email message that he raised more than $81,000 in 2011, making him "the front runner" in the race.

"I want to thank all those who have supported me in the early stages of my campaign," Paule said in the email blast.

Paule's political consultant Dave Gilliard took it a step further.

"Given his cash on hand and an impressive list of endorsements … Paule has clear front-runner status," Gilliard said in the email.

But Paule's campaign fundraising claims have not been verified -- nor can they be.

According to the Fair Political Practices Commission, the deadline to file a semi-annual campaign statement, which covers the period through Dec. 31, 2011, is Jan. 31, 2012.

Why Paule's campaign made the fundraising claim is unclear: A call into Dave Gilliard's office was not immediately returned.

STORY UPDATE: Cristina Rivera, a spokeswoman from Dave Gilliard's office, said by email Thursday afternoon that Phil Paule's campaign statement was filed electronically Jan. 12, 2012, but given that other candidates have not all filed "we believe that Paule is the defacto frontrunner."