Posted on 07/02/2003 10:27:41 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WEST PALM BEACH - U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, who's seeking the GOP nomination for Senate, held onto his large fund-raising advantage over Bill McCollum, his party's unsuccessful nominee in 2000.
Foley announced Tuesday that he has raised nearly $3.2 million for the race and $734,000 this quarter, more than twice as much as McCollum, who brought in $315,000 in the past three months. McCollum has raised nearly $670,000 to date.
But supporters of McCollum, a former U.S. representative from the Orlando area, say he gained valuable momentum, nearly doubling his overall fund-raising total with donations from 3,000 people in 59 of Florida's 67 counties.
"I think Bill McCollum is the only statewide figure in this race right now," said campaign spokesman Paul Seago.
Foley and McCollum are seeking their party's nomination for the Senate seat held by Bob Graham, who is one of nine Democrats seeking the party's presidential nomination.
Graham has not ruled out running for re-election, but he said recently he did "not anticipate" being on the ballot for Senate next year.
Several Democrats are planning to enter the race if he does not seek re-election. They include U.S. Reps. Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines, Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Allen Boyd of Monticello, Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor.
Penelas has raised about $1.1 million, according to his campaign. Deutsch raised $391,352 this quarter for his joint House-Senate campaign fund and has $3,045,433 on hand.
Deutsch spokesman Ryan Hampton said campaign officials were pleased with the totals, particularly considering the "ambiguous situation" surrounding the Democrats' potential run.
Earlier this week, in the first sign of a rift among Democrats in the primary race, Deutsch lashed out at Penelas, accusing him of damaging the 2000 Democratic presidential ticket. Deutsch accused Penelas of helping George W. Bush in Florida, where he defeated Al Gore by 537 votes and secured the White House after a five-week legal battle and a critical ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Penelas said the interparty bickering was not helpful and said he helped Gore win Miami-Dade County. Deutsch fired back that he was "a pathological liar."
David Johnson, a spokesman for Foley, said the Democrats seemed "destined for a pretty rough and brutal primary."
Other Democrats in the race, Castor and Boyd, only recently announced their plans to run and did not have fund-raising figures to release Tuesday, according to their campaigns.
Calls to Hastings' campaign were not returned.
The primary is in about 14 months.
Foley's homosexuality also affects his electability, good for at least a point or two on the right or middle -- maybe more like 5 -- that could swing a tight race to the Dems.
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