THE 2002 ELECTION IS MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY ? BUT THE RACE FOR CAMPAIGN CASH HAS ALREADY BEGUN. REPUBLICAN SENATOR BOB SMITH REVEALED YESTERDAY HE HAS RAISED OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO DEFEND HIS SEAT ? AND BOTH PARTIES APPEAR TO BE GIRDING FOR A SPENDING BATTLE. NHPR?S TRISH ANDERTON REPORTS.
PAPERS FILED WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION THIS WEEK SHOW SENATOR SMITH HAS RAISED 1-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN. THAT?S A MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN HE?D GARNERED AT THIS POINT DURING HIS LAST SENATE RACE. SMITH SPOKESWOMAN LISA HARRISON SAYS SPECULATION ABOUT A CHALLENGE FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHN E. SUNUNU HAS NOT SCARED AWAY CONTRIBUTORS.
001 100 HE has raised over 700k since end of march when rumors of potential primary oppo surfaced // so clearly that has enhanced, or certainly not diminished his fundraising.
SUNUNU HAS NOT YET ANNOUNCED WHETHER HE?LL ENTER THE RACE. HE?S RAISED NEARLY 565-THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND SUNUNU SUPPORTERS ARE ALREADY ORGANIZING TO BACK A POSSIBLE SENATE BID. ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, SPECULATION HAS FOCUSED ON A POSSIBLE RUN BY GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN. ROBERT GIBBS OF THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE?? IN WASHINGTON SAYS HIS PARTY ISN?T INTIMIDATED BY SMITH?S FUNDRAISING SUCCESS.
They;?ve gotta pay for two races, first sen smith and sununu going at each other, that?s going to be a very expensive primary, and then someone?s gotta turn around and run in a general election. So I think money on repub side doesn?t concern us.
GIBBS CALLS SMITH PERHAPS THE MOST VULNERABLE SENATE INCUMBENT IN THE COUNTRY. SMITH SUPPORTERS CONTEND THEIR MAN HAS OFTEN BEEN UNDERESTIMATED. WITH THE UPPER CHAMBER CLOSELY DIVIDED, NEW HAMPSHIRE?S SENATE RACE IS EXPECTED TO BE HARD FOUGHT AND EXPENSIVE. MEANWHILE, CANDIDATES ARE LINING UP TO REPLACE SUNUNU SHOULD HE DECIDE TO RUN FOR SENATE. DEMOCRAT MARTHA FULLER CLARK HAS RAISED 320-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HER SECOND TRY AT SUNUNU?S SEAT. OTHER POSSIBLE CONTENDERS IN THAT RACE, INCLUDING DEMOCRAT MARK MACKENZIE AND REPUBLICAN MIKE CHEMA, APPEAR TO HAVE GOTTEN OFF TO A SLOWER START. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?S OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT CHARLIE BASS HAS A MODEST 116-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HIS CAMPAIGN FUND. BUT HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT, NORMAN JACKMAN, HAS LESS THAN 50-THOUSAND. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
