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Senate 3rd quarter numbers denote early frontrunners
By Hastings Wyman
Southern Political Report
October 28, 2009 — The 3rd Quarter campaign contribution reports in US Senate races are in from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). There is no pronounced trend toward either party, though in two normally Republican states, Kentucky and Texas, the Democrats are out-raising the Republicans. Moreover, the numbers in some states identify the early favorites. In Arkansas, US Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) continues to build up a major war chest that makes her look far stronger than recent voter polls. On the GOP side, Sen. Gilbert Baker (R) has become the man to beat, jumping quickly to the front of the money line. In Florida, Charlie Crist (R) is number one in the money race; his main GOP primary foe, Marco Rubio, is beginning to show some financial strength, but still trails Crist badly. Kendrick Meek dominates the Democratic side, but isn’t amassing the money he would need to beat Crist or Rubio. In Kentucky, dark horse Rand Paul is raking in the dough, using the internet technique learned at the knee of his father, US Rep. and ex-presidential candidate Ron Paul. Rand Paul raised more in the 3rd Quarter than any other Kentucky Senate candidates. Rand’s GOP foe, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, still has more cash on hand than Rand. However, Democratic state Attorney General Jack Conway has more cash on hand than any other contender in either party. In Louisiana, US Sen. David Vitter (R) is far and away the fundraising favorite, though his Democratic foe, Charlie Melancon, is raising enough money to give Vitter a race. In North Carolina, US Sen. Richard Burr (R), who had been slow to raise significant cash, now has a respectable sum in his campaign account and -- so far -- no major opponent (but look for that to change). And in Texas, the top two Democratic contenders have much more money than the Republican candidates. The GOP powers-that-be haven’t agreed on a horse. In any case, the financial reports are a good omen for the Democrats in this Republican state. | FEC Reports, US Senate, 3rd Qtr, 2009 | | | Incumbents listed first | | | | | 3rd Quarter | On Hand | | Alabama | | | | Richard Shelby/R | 589,000 | 15,327,000 | | | | | | Arkansas | | | | Blanche Lincoln/D | 1,182,000 | 4,130,000 | | Gilbert Baker/R | 510,000 | 504,000 | | Curtis Coleman/R | 69,000 | 31,000 | | Conrad Reynolds/R | 43,000 | 43,000 | | Thomas Cox/R | 40,000 | 5,300 | | Buddy Rogers/R | 3,000 | 1,600 | | | | | | Florida/open | | | | Charlie Crist/R | 2,484,000 | 6,235,000 | | Marco Rubio/R | 1,005,000 | 903,000 | | Marion Thorpe/R | 67,000 | 16,000 | | Robert Smith/R | 19,000 | 10,000 | | Kendrick Meek/D | 759,000 | 2,668,000 | | Corrine Brown/D | 174,000 | 132,000 | | | | | | Georgia | | | | Johnny Isakson/R | 879,000 | 3,642,000 | | | | | | Kentucky/open | | | | Rand Paul/R | 1,011,000 | 912,000 | | Trey Grayson/R | 643,000 | 1,118,000 | | Bill Johnson/R | 11,000 | 32,000 | | Jack Conway/D | 546,000 | 1,649,000 | | Dan Mongiardo/D | 514,000 | 752,000 | | Maurice Sweeney/D | 18,000 | 44,000 | | Darlene Price/D | 150 | 7,800 | | | | | | Louisiana | | | | David Vitter/R | 1,230,000 | 3,461,000 | | Charles Melancon/D | 751,000 | 1,803,000 | | | | | | North Carolina | | | | Richard Burr/R | 1.123,000 | 3,461,000 | | Ken Lewis/D | 155,000 | 184,000 | | | | | | Oklahoma | | | | Tom Coburn/R | 579,000 | 1,134,000 | | | | | | South Carolina | | | | Jim DeMint/R | 494,000 | 2,860,000 | | | | | | Texas/open | | | | Roger Williams/R | 335,000 | 863,000 | | Florence Shapiro/R | 254,000 | 556,000 | | Elizabeth Ames Jones/R | 208,000 | 531,000 | | Michael Williams/R | 141,000 | 118,000 | | Andrew Castanuela | 9,400 | 6,000 | | Bill White/D | 1,546,000 | 4,182,000 | | John Sharp/D | 170,000 | 3,115,000 | | Alma Aguado/D | 21,000 | 6,000 | |
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