WP: Virginia Senate race: With Allen's Help, Webb's Fundraising Soars [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

With Allen's Help, Webb's Fundraising Soars
By Michael D. Shear and Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 5, 2006; Page B05

RICHMOND, Oct. 4 -- The big question confronting James Webb when he became Virginia's Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in June was this: Could he raise enough money to compete with Republican Sen. George Allen's well-funded campaign?

The answer came Wednesday, when Webb announced that he had raised $3.5 million between July and September, positioning him to be one of the most aggressive Democratic challengers in the country. As of Sept. 30, Webb campaign officials said they had $2.7 million in the bank for the final weeks of the race.

Allen officials refused to provide their fundraising totals Wednesday, saying they will release the figures Oct. 15, when federal reports must be made public. But nonpartisan political strategists said Webb's financial success makes him competitive regardless of how much money Allen has raised....

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Political observers said much of Webb's money likely came as a result of scandals that have rocked Allen's campaign, giving Democratic supporters fresh hope for victory in Virginia. Allen uttered the word "macaca" at a Webb volunteer on Aug. 11, and since then polls have shown the evaporation of his double-digit lead.

"George Allen has become a national poster boy for Democratic efforts to take over the Senate, and that means Webb was able to raise money from near and far," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100401760.html