Battles for Senate Seats Fierce, Costly

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060715/D8ISJC2O0.html

Battles for Senate Seats Fierce, Costly
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Jul 15, 2:37 PM (ET)

By TOM STUCKEY

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Republican contender for the U.S. Senate is fast outpacing the fundraising of his Democratic challengers in a state that usually leans toward Democrats.

In Montana, incumbent GOP Sen. Conrad Burns' re-election effort is drawing record contributions. But in Minnesota, the Republican vying to replace an open Senate seat has for the first time in the race slipped below his Democratic rival's fundraising pace.

The deadline for submitting the latest financial reports was Saturday.

As the front-runner for the Republican nomination, Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele has the full backing of state and national GOP leaders. Help from President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on down helped Steele overcome Rep. Benjamin Cardin's early lead.

Cardin raised more than $925,000 for his Democratic senatorial campaign in the second quarter, well ahead of his chief Democratic opponent, Kweisi Mfume, who drew $135,000 from April to June. But Steele pulled in $1.8 million in that time.

Cardin still leads with $4.5 million collected so far, but Steele isn't far behind now with $4.45 million. Mfume trails with $865,000 - but several polls over the last year have shown him and Cardin running close to each other, well ahead in the field. Many voters are still undecided.


Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., speaks with reporters during an interview with The Associated Press in Hartford, Conn., Friday, July 14, 2006. Lieberman, facing a strong Democratic primary challenge, said Friday he has nearly $4.3 million cash on hand for his re-election campaign. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

[calico1]

1. "Two more terms."

I am entitled to at least two more terms."

:silly:

[ShockediSay]

2. Corrupt as "democracy" can get

in other words

and it's the pay for play lobbyists who channel the lion's share of that money

[niallmac]

3. Why on earth? Why in Gods name? Why would ANYone donate

to a Republican campaign today? There must be people out there that
are so removed from my own way of thinking that I could only communicate
with them by dropping some candy on the ground and speaking softly and letting
them smell my hand.