Posted on 10/25/2006 8:38:08 AM PDT by dangus
One must be careful to make too much of a given Senate candidate appearing broke at the 3rd-quarter FEC filing time. After all, the national parties and major donors can rescue a strong candidates foundering finances. And certain costs, such as advertising, may even still have been paid up front. But when so many candidates from one party, who have been very strong, are suddenly out of cash, while the other party is cash-rich, something may be afoot. In this case, the Republicans continue to use their strategy which produced surprise wins in 2002 and 2004: They are keeping their powder dry for a last minute surge.
In Arizona, Jim Pederson (D) has outspent incumbent John Kyl, $10.3 million to $8.5 million. But Pederson is now outfunded, $5 million to 1.18 million.
In Connecticut, Ned Lamont (D) has spent $8.72 million challenging and has only $330 thousand left. Although his opponent is Democrat Joe Liberman, Lamont may yet draw last-,inute donations from other cash-starved Democrats.
In Missouri, Claire McCaskill (D) has matched Senator Jim Talent, $7.0 million to $7.85 million, but has only a quarter million dollars left, while Talent still has $4.2 million.
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown (D) has matched incumbent Mike DeWine, $7.5 million to $8.07 million, but trails in cash on hand, $1.21 million to $4.5 million.
In Montana, national Democrats have already scrambled to help John Tester find $3.7 million, but he only has $571 thousand left; Conrad Burns has $1.7 million.
Republicans looking to pick up Democrat seats have largely been woefully under-funded throughout the campaign. Some show signs of being able to make a last-minute push. A particularly hopeful race is in Maryland, where some polls show Michael Steele (R) has pulled even with Ben Cardin (D). Cardin has outspent him $5.19 million to $4.41 million, but Steele now has the advantage, with $2.06 million to Cardins $1.59 million.
In Washington, heavily indebted incumbent Maria Cantwell has spent $9.58 million to Challenger Mike McGavicjs $6.5 million, but has only a tiny cash-on-hand advantage, $2.4 million to $2.12 million.
New Jerseys Tom Kean has been outspent $2.43 million to Sen. Bob Menendezs $6.65 million, but is one of the very few candidates with more cash on hand than he has already spent, $3.23 million. (Menendez has $5.51 million.)
One race national Republicans should look to support is in Michigan, where Mike Bouchard is remaining vaguely competitive with Sen. Debbie Stabenow. She has spent $9.32 million to $3.94 million. She has only $1.25 million. Bouchard has even less, only $0.6 million, but Republican support for Bouchard could force national Democrats to spend on this race.
Not every race is cheery for Republicans, financially. In Tennessee, both candidates are running low. Bob Corker and Harold Ford have spent $12.42 million and $8.93 million, and both have less than one million left. (Corker has less than half a million, to Fords $0.77 million, but can spend his own money.)
And, in Pennsylvania, Santorum has spent $18,87 million to Caseys $11.29 million. Both seem to have adequate funds left, but Casey now has more than Santorum, $3.70 million to $3.64 million.
And in Rhode Island, Republican incumbent Chafee has spent so much, including beating back Republican challenger Steven Laffey ($3.42 million), he has only $.58 million against Sheldon Whitehouses $1.4 million.
Looking at the preceding data, Republicans should gain momentum in Ohio, Missouri, Montana, and could gain in Maryland, New Jersey and Washington. Only in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania do they look like they could yet drop further behind. It is very possible that they could lose no net seats in the Senate.
The MSM reports that RNC is not giving funds to Dewine when the fact is when compared to Brown , Dewine has raised of lot of money in this election.
"let's just hope the libs starve to death and do this country a favor."
liberals do no do very well after tax cuts are enacted and put into effect.
Total nonsense.
Both will campaign if necessary and asked.
Why would by draw the stupid conclusion that Bush is not for Santorum? Or that Spector would help much?
Do you have your "Globalist" mask ready to scare the kiddies on Halloween?
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