Spending by House candidates increased in 2002
URL:http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-04-campaign-spending_x.htm
WASHINGTON (AP) — House candidates in the 2002 campaigns spent almost a third more than during the previous off-year election, but the four largest individual spenders all lost.
The Republican and Democratic nominees for the 435 House seats spent $499.7 million between Jan. 1, 2001, and Nov. 25, 2002, up 34% from $372.9 million during the same period four years earlier, according to Federal Election Commission statistics. That's three times the rate of inflation.
The figures were just 1% higher than the $492.2 million that congressional candidates spent during the presidential election season of 1999-2000. Experts attributed the small change to the usual drop-off in interest during off-year elections and fewer competitive races.
"In a presidential year, you get a big jump," said Stephen Weissman, associate director of the Campaign Finance Institute, a research group. "More people are participating in the election, more party advertising, more people voting. Why shouldn't there be more contributing?"
In only 45 districts in 2002 did the winner receive 55% of the vote or less, compared with 59 in 2000, FEC statistics show.
"Most of the big money is raised in the close races," said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which studies money and campaigns. "There weren't that many truly contested races."
In addition, some donors may have bypassed House races for Senate contests, where party control was more in doubt.
"There are only so many trees in the orchard," Democratic consultant Glenn Totten said. "When people start talking about giving money, you have to talk about where else they can give."
The four biggest House spenders, all Democrats, all lost their races: Jim Humphreys in West Virginia, who spent a record $8 million, most of it from his own pocket; Wayne Hogan ($4.6 million) and Harry Jacobs (3.9 million) in Florida; and Roger Kahn ($3.7 million) in Georgia.
Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., was the highest-spending winner, using $3.7 million to defeat Democratic Rep. Jim Maloney in a race pitting two incumbents forced together by redistricting. Maloney spent $2.1 million.
Senate candidates spent $272.6 million between Jan. 1, 2001, and Nov. 25, 2002. Since one-third of the Senate is elected every two years, accurate comparisons with two years ago or four years ago are not possible. For example, California, Florida and New York, three of the most expensive states to run in, did not hold Senate elections in 2002.
Four Senate candidates spent more than $10 million, led by North Carolina Republican Elizabeth Dole, who spent $13.6 million to win the seat vacated by the retiring Republican Jesse Helms. The other three lost: Democrat Erskine Bowles in North Carolina ($13.3 million); Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo. ($12.2 million); and Republican Douglas Forrester in New Jersey ($10.5 million).
Two candidates re-elected in November each reported having more than $2 million in their bank accounts that they could spend on a presidential campaign: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., with $2.9 million, and Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., with $2.6 million.
Last month, the FEC reported that the Democratic and Republican parties raised $1.1 billion between Jan. 1, 2001, and Nov. 25, 2002, the last time the parties can raise the unlimited donations known as soft money from individuals, unions and corporations.
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. |
