10/19/2009 - Arizona Campaign Funds Article - AZ Republic

[Arizona Tea Party]

Race for cash is key in race for Congress
Erin Kelly - Oct. 19, 2009 12:00 AM - Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2009/10...
Republic Washington Bureau .

WASHINGTON - Arizona's three most vulnerable House members continue to raise far more campaign cash than their challengers, federal disclosure reports show.

While the midterm congressional elections are still more than a year away, the race for money is critical. Big donors, the media and political-party leaders all base candidates' viability in part on their ability to raise money.

Incumbents traditionally have an advantage in fundraising, although strong challengers often can close the gap as Election Day nears. - For now, the incumbents have the advantage.
Freshman Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, raised more than $194,000 in the third quarter, according to campaign-finance reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission.

That was more than three times as much as Republican challenger Paul Gosar. The Flagstaff dentist raised about $59,000 in the same period.

At the end of September, Kirkpatrick, who represents the sprawling 1st Congressional District, had nearly $551,000 in cash in her campaign account. Gosar had about $78,000.

Kirkpatrick reported debts of $30,000; Gosar's campaign owed $4,000.

In the 5th Congressional District, two-term Democratic Rep. Harry Mitchell received more than $162,000 in contributions from July through September. He ended the period with nearly $627,000 in cash and a debt of $350.

The two Republicans seeking to unseat Mitchell, venture capitalist Jim Ward and former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, raised less than a quarter of what Mitchell did:

• Ward took in $35,600. He reported cash on hand of more than $152,000 and campaign debt of nearly $101,000.

• Schweikert received nearly $40,000. He reported more than $282,000 in cash on hand, with a $500,000 debt owed by his campaign.

In the 8th Congressional District, two-term Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the strongest fundraiser of all, received more than $247,000. She ended the period with nearly $1.4 million in cash and no debts.

Two Republicans are vying to challenge her:

• Jesse Kelly, an Iraq war veteran who now works for his family's Tucson construction business, took in more than $115,000 and had more than $120,000 in cash left at the end of September. He reported no debts.

• Andy Goss, also an Iraq war veteran, collected about $1,300 in contributions. He ended the quarter with almost $850 in cash and no debts.

The strong fundraising by Kirkpatrick, Mitchell and especially Giffords are part of the reason the nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the races as trending toward the incumbents.

The latest report rates Giffords' district as "solidly Democratic" and Kirkpatrick's and Mitchell's districts as "likely Democratic" despite GOP efforts to reclaim the three previously Republican-controlled districts.

Campaign money
Five members of Arizona's congressional delegation do not have serious challengers yet for next year's election. Still, the incumbents are raising a lot of money:

• Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, of the 6th Congressional District, brought in more than $90,000 and had more than $916,000 in cash available.

• Republican Rep. Trent Franks, of the 2nd Congressional District, took in more than $113,000 and had nearly $80,000 left in cash. He also reported more than $304,000 in debt.

• Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, of the 7th Congressional District, received nearly $87,000 and ended the period with about $102,000 in cash.

• Democratic Rep. Ed Pastor, of the 4th Congressional District, received about $71,000 and had nearly $1.5 million in cash on hand.

• Republican Rep. John Shadegg, of the 3rd Congressional District, took in more than $111,000 and had nearly $140,000 in cash on hand.

Source: Federal Election Commission reports