Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln said today her re-election campaign raised more than $1.2 million since July and has $4.13 million in the bank.
The Democratic incumbent, who is seeking a third term in 2010, said she was “humbled and honored that hundreds of new supporters have joined the campaign during the last year so that we now count more than 4,500 donors.”
Since the beginning of the year, Lincoln’s campaign has raised about $4.2 million, an average of $1.4 million per quarter. Her campaign also reported spending $266,105 since July.
Seven Republicans have announced their candidacy for the GOP nomination to challenge Lincoln next year. One of the candidates, state Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, says he has raised more than $500,000 since he announced his candidacy Sept. 1.
“No matter how much money Sen. Lincoln receives from special interest, it doesn’t change the fact that recent polls show her trailing potential Republican opponents,” state GOP Executive Director Chase Duggar said.
“Arkansans are tired of the fact that Sen. Lincoln doesn’t represent our views and values. The Republican Party of Arkansas is excited to see such an energetic group of dedicated conservatives who are out raising money and working hard to see her voted out of office.”
U.S. Senate candidates have until Thursday to file quarterly campaign finance reports.
The other six Republicans who have announced for the seat are state Sen. Kim Hendren of Gravette; retired Army Col. Conrad Reynolds of Conway; Safe Foods CEO Curtis Coleman; businessmen Tom Cox of North Little Rock and Fred Ramey of Searcy, and U.S. Army veteran Buddy Rogers of Rogers.
John Gray with the Green Party also has announced.
Steve Patterson, Lincoln’s campaign manager, said the senator has not “really been allowed to get out and have the campaign yet.”
“We’re very reassured that we get to go out and have the campaign,” Patterson said. “She knows she going to have a competitive race, and we continue to raise the resources she knows it will take to make a competitive race.”
