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Parties ponder who to help out©Associated PressOctober 17, 2002 WASHINGTON -- Democrats are putting Bill Clinton's economic record up against George W. Bush's in a blitz of TV and radio ads, calls and fliers while the president has lent his voice to tape-recorded phone calls urging Americans to vote Republican. Both parties are unleashing final volleys in a multimillion-dollar effort to sway voters who will determine control of Congress on Nov. 5. Party strategists are closely examining campaign finance reports the candidates filed with the Federal Election Commission this week, looking for those who might need their help. In Georgia's Senate race, Republican Rep. Saxby Chambliss is counting on $900,000 in ads by the National Republican Senatorial Committee to help chip away at Democratic Sen. Max Cleland's roughly 3-to-1 spending advantage. Cleland has raised and spent more than $8.7-million, compared with about $5-million in fundraising and $3-million in spending by Chambliss, according to campaign reports. Chambliss started the month with more cash on hand: $1.7-million, compared to $203,085 for Cleland. "It's a very big boost to get that little extra bit," said Michelle Hitt of the Chambliss campaign. Bush and Clinton will wage dueling get-out-the-vote campaigns in the final days. Each effort is expected to cost millions. The DNC is building its push around the struggling economy, comparing Clinton's economic record with Bush's. The party plans to contact voters and play a recorded message from Clinton. Former Vice President Al Gore, the party's 2000 presidential nominee, also is recording messages. In more than 25 states, the Republican National Committee is telephoning voters who have requested absentee ballots and playing a recording of Bush. "Once you receive your ballot I hope you will support our great Republican candidates," Bush says in one recording. "They are working to make America stronger, safer and better. I appreciate your support of my agenda." Meanwhile, several states with close Senate races are attracting a final wave of party ad dollars. Each major party plans to spend at least $2-million in Missouri, South Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas and New Hampshire, for example. Fifteen to 20 close House races make the hot sheet for party spending, including incumbent-vs.-incumbent matchups in Connecticut, Illinois, Mississippi and Pennsylvania and races in Indiana, Georgia, Iowa, Colorado, Maryland, Texas, South Dakota and Minnesota. In some cases, the party money will serve as the icing on top of $1-million or more the campaigns have on hand to spend. In others, it will provide a crucial infusion for competitive candidates with little cash left. Republican Elizabeth Dole has spent more than $10-million trying to land North Carolina's open Senate seat, starting the month with $592,147 on hand. That compares to $1.1-million on hand for Democratic rival Erskine Bowles, who had spent $7-million as of Sept. 30. Though Bowles reported more cash on hand, he also reported more campaign debt: nearly $3-million, compared to $168,773 for Dole. In perhaps the costliest of House incumbent-vs.-incumbent races, Connecticut Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson reported spending more than $2.4-million and had $1-million on hand, compared to more than $1.6-million in spending and $146,280 on hand for Democratic Rep. Jim Maloney.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
