WASHINGTON -Republican Sen. George Voinovich has spent 10 times as much money campaigning as Democratic challenger Eric Fingerhut in the last three months, according to campaign finance reports.
Voinovich's $2.9 million in spending dwarfed Fingerhut's $305,000, according to the campaign finance reports from the Federal Election Commission. Voinovich, former Ohio governor, also outraised Fingerhut, a state senator, about four-to-one during the last reporting period. Voinovich took in $903,000 compared to Fingerhut's $245,000.
This shows that he has support from Ohioans to go back to the Senate
spokeswoman Marcie Ridgway said Friday.
Raquel Whiting, campaign manager for Fingerhut, said the reason Voinovich has so much more money is because the people who support Fingerhut can only afford to contribute $5 or $10 each.
We're getting our money from people who want change and people who want change in Ohio don't have as much money Whiting said, citing the state's unemployment rate of 6.3 percent.
The reports, which cover July 1 through Sept. 30, also showed that millionaire shopping center heiress Capri Cafaro has outraised Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette in the 14th District during the last period, mostly by loaning herself more money.
Cafaro's report showed that her campaign gained $1.2 million during the last three months, which included a $1.155 million loan from Cafaro and $46,000 in funds raised. Cafaro had $426,000 on hand at the end of the period.
LaTourette raised about $500,000 during the same time period. LaTourette has amassed a total of $1.7 million during his entire campaign, while Cafaro has taken in $1.84 million.
We've done the best we can to raise the money we think we need to be on TV
LaTourette said. I fear that she (Cafaro) could swoop in and try to buy this seat
so we have to be ready.
With the Nov. 2 election a little more than two weeks away, the amount of money candidates have left to spend is especially significant.
According to the reports, Voinovich, who has raised $9.5 million in all, has $4.2 million left to spend. Fingerhut, a state senator from Cleveland who has raised $1.1 million for his campaign, has $93,276 on hand.
LaTourette spent about $382,000 during the last period and has $1.2 million left. Cafaro, who spent $1 million during the last three months, expects to have $480,000 left to spend, Cook said.
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