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Graham leads Crist in race for funding Times staff writer © St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 1998 n the contest to raise cash for their U.S. Senate campaigns, incumbent Bob Graham has collected $4.1-million and challenger Charlie Crist has amassed more than $1-million, according to the latest official reports. The figures indicate Graham has far more money for the expected blitz of television commercials closer to the November general election. He has $3.1-million of his cash on hand, while Crist has $620,574 remaining. "Obviously, Sen. Graham is going to be in a very good position to run an effective campaign," said Ron Villella, campaign manager for the Democratic incumbent senator. And that will include plenty of television ads, he said. Crist, a Republican state senator from St. Petersburg, said, "going over a million dollars raised indicates to me that people are ready for a change, and they're willing to invest in that change." "I think we'll clearly have the opportunity to have an effective television campaign," Crist said. In the three-month period ending June 30, Graham raised $486,768 and Crist raised $167,877, according to the report. Business | Citrus | Commentary | Entertainment Hernando | Floridian | Obituaries | Pasco | Sports State | Tampa Bay | World & Nation © Copyright 1998 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.