Cynics would argue that campaigns are won by candidates with the most money.

While generally true that money is the fuel of political campaigns, Tuesday’s Aug. 5 primary showed that the candidate with the most money isn’t always the winner.

“Money’s not a silver bullet,” said Dave Dulio, professor of political science at Oakland University.

“It’s not a guarantee you’re going to win,” Dulio said. “Outspending your opponent can certainly help. You can buy more electioneering. But that doesn’t always mean victory. In nearly all instances, more money can’t elect someone with a bad message or who can’t communicate with voters.

“A good campaigner with a bad message can lose to a bad campaigner with a good message,” he said. “It really does come down to convincing voters you’re the right candidate.”

Here’s a look at some of the campaign fundraising reported prior to the primary, and the election-day outcomes. Sometimes money talked, and sometimes it didn’t:

14th Congressional District

State Rep. Rudy Hobbs raised $607,806, considerably more than the $383,649 raised by Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and the $173,124 raised by former U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke.

But when the voting was done Tuesday, it was Lawrence who finished ahead of Hobbs and Clarke to move on to the Nov. 4 general election in the S-shaped district starting in Pontiac and ending in Detroit.

11th Congressional District

In this case, money spoke volumes in the Republican primary, where Birmingham attorney Dave Trott showed campaign revenue of more than $3.4 million, including $2.4 million of his own money, compared to $570,022 for first-term U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio. Trott won by a 2-1 margin in the district representing central and west Oakland County and part of northwest Wayne County.

In the Democratic primary, however, Anil Kumar raised $756,973 compared to $375,432 by Bobby McKenzie. Yet it was McKenzie who won.

8th Congressional District

The candidates who raised the most money both won their primaries in the district representing Rochester, Rochester Hills, 10 north Oakland County townships plus all of Livingston and Ingham counties.

Mike Bishop outfunded his GOP opponent, Tom McMillin, $481,428 to $215,227 and won. Eric Schertzing raised $150,464, more than twice the second-place finisher Susan Grettenberger and claimed the Democratic primary.

13th State Senate

Chuck Moss was the big money-raiser with $161,850 in the district representing Troy, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Clawson, Berkley, Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. But he finished third behind Marty Knollenberg, who raised $50,035, and Andrew Raczkowski, who raised $69,960, in the Republican primary.

Money was meaningless in the Democratic primary. There, Cyndi Peltonen raised $7,297 but beat Ryan Fishman, whose campaign filings show he raised $211,296.

39th State House

Incumbent Republican Klint Kesto raised $198,540 and defeated Deb O’Hagan, who raised $22,610. The district represents Commerce Township, western West Bloomfield Township, Wixom and Wolverine Lake.

43rd State House

Five Republicans and three Democrats were on the ballot in the district representing Lake Angelus, Independence Township and most of Waterford Township. Jim Tedder raised $42,350 and won the GOP primary. But Andrea Schroeder raised $47,088.

In the Democratic primary, Dennis Ritter raised $22,410 and won the nomination over Robin McGregor, who raised $14,336, and Neil Billington, who raised $14,336.