GOP primary has high cost; election spending ramps up

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129335241112711.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/14/2005, 8:08 p.m. ET
By DAVID HAMMER
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans spent big money fighting each other in a June primary to fill an empty U.S. House seat, and one candidate ran up nearly $50,000 in debt in a losing effort.

Meanwhile, incumbents seeking re-election, including U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, filed federal finance reports as the 2006 campaign season approaches. The reports for the quarter ending Sept. 30 were due to the Federal Elections Commission by Saturday.

In the GOP primary for the August special election in southwestern Ohio, former U.S. Rep. Bob McEwen and recently elected Rep. Jean Schmidt were both forced to dip into their own pockets for more than $200,000 in loans to their own campaigns.

Schmidt's campaign manager Joe Braun said she still hasn't stopped running, first in the 10-way June primary, then in a razor-close victory over Democrat Paul Hackett and now in preparation to defend the seat on the normal 2006 election cycle. She managed to raise enough money to end the quarter Sept. 30 with more than $47,000 cash on hand...