* Warren’s opponent Scott Brown has second-largest 3Q take
* Virginia Senate race also generates large cash haul
By James B. Kelleher
CHICAGO, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic
hopeful in a hotly contested Massachusetts race, was the top
fundraiser among U.S. Senate candidates in the third quarter
with $12.1 million, according to reports from candidates on
Monday.
Monday was the deadline for political campaigns to file
their fund-raising reports with the Federal Election Commission
for the quarter ended September 30.
Warren is in a tight race with Republican incumbent Senator
Scott Brown, one of about a dozen contests nationally that will
determine whether Democrats keep majority control of the Senate.
Republicans need a net gain of at least four seats to take the
majority.
Warren easily out-raised Brown, but fell short of a spot in
the money-raising record books, according to the Center for
Responsive Politics.
“It’s definitely a large quarterly total and puts her in the
top tier,” said Bob Biersack, a senior fellow at the Center for
Responsive Politics. “But it’s not unprecedented.”
The quarterly record, Biersack said, belongs to Linda
McMahon, the former professional wrestling company executive and
two-time Republican candidate for Senate in Connecticut. In
2010, McMahon raised $20 million in the third quarter – much of
it her own money – only to lose to Richard Blumenthal.
Warren’s opponent Brown had the second-largest haul among
those surveyed by Reuters, bringing in nearly $7.5 million in
the quarter, according to his campaign. Warren has had a narrow
lead in most recent polls.
The two contenders in the Senate race in Virginia, another
closely watched fight, also raised large amounts with Tim Kaine,
a former governor and Democratic party chair, raising $4.5
million. His Republican rival, former governor and Senator
George Allen, raised nearly $3.5 million, according to
campaigns. Kaine has a slight lead in polls although the race is
expected to remain tight.
Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who would
be the first openly gay U.S. Senator if she wins, raised $4.6
million in the quarter, more than double the $2.2 million raised
by her Republican opponent, former Governor Tommy Thompson.
Thompson led polls immediately after his Republican primary
victory but has fallen behind slightly of late.
COSTLY CONTESTS
Indiana Tea Party favorite and Republican nominee for the
Senate, State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, raised $3 million in
the third quarter, double the $1.5 million raised by Democratic
Congressman Joe Donnelly. Mourdock ousted longtime Indiana
Senator Richard Lugar in the Republican primary and the bitter
feelings from that race have left some voters disenchanted and
polls showing a tight race.
In Florida, Republican Congressman Connie Mack, the son of a
former U.S. Senator from Florida, reported raising $2.7 million
in the quarter, while incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, reported
raising $2.3 million. Nelson has been leading by single digits
in most polls.
In Nebraska, Republican Deb Fischer reported raising $2.4
million in the third quarter, while Democratic former governor
and Senator Bob Kerrey reported raising $1.7 million. Fischer
came from behind to win the Republican primary and is leading in
the polls, giving Republicans a good chance of gaining a seat.
Pennsylvania Republican challenger Bob Smith slightly
outraised incumbent Senator Bob Casey with their campaigns
reporting $1.6 million and $1.5 million raised in the quarter.
Smith has narrowed Casey’s lead in recent polls.
In Connecticut, Chris Murphy, the Democratic congressman
facing McMahon in this year’s Senate race, raised nearly $2.9
million, according to his campaign.
Nevada Senator Dean Heller, the Republican appointed to fill
out the term of an incumbent who resigned, reported raising $1.6
million. Figures for his opponent, Congresswoman Shelley
Berkley, were not yet available.
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who was considered one of
the most endangered Democratic incumbents in the nation,
reported earlier this month that she had raised $5.8 million in
the quarter, according to her campaign.
Her Republican opponent, Todd Akin, had not filed a report
as of Monday afternoon and his campaign spokesman did not return
a message seeking fundraising figures. Last week, Akin said he
had raised $1 million in donations on-line, but that was not
specifically for the third quarter.
Akin was criticized in August for saying women have a
biological defense against a pregnancy from “legitimate rape.”
Some leading Republicans called on him to drop out of the race
and many major donors pulled their support for him. McCaskill
has led most polls by single digits since the remarks.
The completed filings, which will not be made public until
later this month, provide a glimpse of the fund-raising efforts
of candidates before the final reporting date of Oct. 25.
(Additional reporting by Kevin Murphy, David Dawson, Brendan
O’Brien, Alina Selyukh and Richard Cowan; Editing by Greg McCune
and Todd Eastham)
