Bond steps up money-raising for fourth Senate term

KansasCity.com (Associated Press) ^ | April 14, 2003 | Libby Quaid

[JohnnyZ]

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Kit Bond has not officially declared himself a candidate for re-election in 2004, but he raised $876,756 this year toward a fourth term, new reports show.

The fund-raising pushed Bond's cash-on-hand balance to $1.39 million as of March 31, according to Federal Election Commission reports released Monday. The reports are due Tuesday and cover the first three months of this year.

No Democrat has indicated an interest in challenging Bond, who defeated Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon in 1998, 53 percent to 44 percent.

But the reports show Bond attracted support from several prominent Democrats in the Kansas City, Mo., area.

"I am very grateful that so many Democrats and Republicans in Missouri are supporting my efforts to strengthen our economy and attract high-paying jobs to our state," Bond said in a statement.

A fund-raising reception organized by several Democratic leaders, including Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, brought in $18,160 for Bond's campaign, according to the report. Barnes herself did not write a check, but Independence Mayor Ron Stewart contributed $400 to Bond's re-election.

Missouri Democratic Party officials say they have a candidate to challenge Bond, but have not said who it is.

Meanwhile, GOP freshman Sen. Jim Talent raised $52,956 from January through March and reported cash-on-hand of $114,811.

Talent defeated Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan on Nov. 5 and is serving the remainder of the term won by her husband, the late Gov. Mel Carnahan, in 2000. Talent will be up for election in 2006.

Missouri Senate races have grown more expensive since 1998, when Bond raised nearly $6 million to defeat Nixon. Mrs. Carnahan raised more than twice that amount - $12.3 million - for last year's campaign, compared to Talent's $8.65 million.

In 2000, Republican Sen. John Ashcroft raised $8.9 million, compared to $8.5 million raised by Carnahan, who won the election posthumously.

[JohnnyZ]

Missouri Democratic Party officials say they have a candidate to challenge Bond, but have not said who it is.

ROFL!

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[fieldmarshaldj]

"Missouri Democratic Party officials say they have a candidate to challenge Bond, but have not said who it is."

"ROFL!"

Must be a cousin of that same "unnamed Democrat" that leads Dubya in the generic polls as of late.

[Dan from Michigan]

Missouri Democratic Party officials say they have a candidate to challenge Bond, but have not said who it is.

Probably a sac lamb.

[JohnnyZ]

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder had raised $20,300 through April 1 for a potential campaign for statewide office.

Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, is considering running for lieutenant governor or attorney general in 2004. He said he hadn't yet decided which office to seek or whether he will run at all.

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