Florida's nominees for U.S. Senate will spend almost every penny they have to win their primary elections next week.
But help is on the way.
The national political parties have been raising money for the presumptive winners for months and expect to hand lots of money to the two candidates who will compete in November.
Democrats plan on giving their nominee more than $1-million shortly after the primary. Republicans say they will give their nominee at least as much but won't name a figure.
"We don't want to leave them broke, battered and vulnerable to the Republicans," said retiring Sen. Bob Graham, who is helping lead the Democratic fundraising.
Florida is one of a handful of states with contested Senate races that could determine whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the Senate.
"It is immensely important to Florida's future to elect a Republican United States senator," said U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Sarasota, who is spearheading the Republican fundraising effort. "And while the nominee will face a difficult race, the funds we are raising now will undoubtedly secure the victory."
Last November, the Federal Election Commission issued an advisory opinion allowing groups to collect money for presumptive nominees, not specific candidates.
That opened the door for the parties to raise money for Senate seats in several states. Florida was the first state the Democrats targeted.
The Democrats have had at least three major fundraisers, including a June tribute to Graham in Tampa and a sold-out event in July with former President Bill Clinton in Miami. The Republicans are raising money through smaller events.
Both are using direct mail, e-mail and party leaders to seek donations.
Some efforts were put on hold after Hurricane Charley hit southwest Florida. But the storm also was used as another way to collect money.
"One of our core values as Democrats is the belief that we must help people who cannot help themselves," according to an e-mail sent to potential donors by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "The people of Florida cannot and should not be focused on politics and elections now - they need us to do that for them."
Campaign finance law allows individuals to give up to $2,000 to a presumptive nominee for the general election. Candidates also can collect money for general election now, but their main concern is the primary.
"I think there is going to be a lot of money - a lot of commitments," said Bill McBride, who ran for governor against Jeb Bush in 2002 and is helping Graham and Sen. Bill Nelson raise money for the Democratic nominee.
Seven Republicans and four Democrats are competing in Tuesday's winner-take-all primaries. The winners face off Nov. 2.
Democratic front-runner Betty Castor, former state education commissioner, has raised about $200,000 to $300,000 for the general election, her spokesman Matt Burgess said.
Her chief rival, U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Hollywood, has about $600,000, campaign spokesman Roy Teicher said.
Republican front-runners include former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood and former U.S. housing secretary Mel Martinez, who has about $200,000 on hand for the general election.
"Anything they raise for the eventual nominee would help," said Kirk Fordham, Martinez's finance director. "The Democrat and Republican nominees will be broke."
Florida will be crucial this November because of the thin 51-48 majority Republicans have in the Senate and because President Bush's 537-vote win in Florida in 2000 is being used to motivate voters.
Candidates expect to have an easier time raising money after the primary because of the race's national importance. But they say it will help to have money available the day after the primary.
"It's good that we have someone collecting," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, a Democratic candidate for Senate. "There will be zero dollars on the campaign account the next day."
Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Anita Kumar can be reached at 727 893-8472 or kumar@sptimes.com
