Wise Young
02-02-2006, 04:01 PM
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Menendez far ahead of Kean in stockpiling campaign funds
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
By HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez had nearly five times as much campaign money in the bank at the end of 2005 as Republican Thomas Kean Jr., his likely opponent in November for a six-year Senate term, reports filed Tuesday show.
But Kean has a well-known name as the son of one of the state's most popular former governors, and some early polls have shown him ahead or running neck-and-neck with Menendez. That's a sharp contrast to recent statewide races where Republican candidates trailed from start to finish.
"We feel very comfortable we're going to be able to raise the funds we're going to need to be successful," said Evan Kozlow, Kean's campaign manager.
Kean, a Republican state senator from Westfield, began fund-raising in March, and received nearly $1.1 million by year's end. He had $860,571 on hand on Dec. 31, Tuesday's report shows.
Menendez -- who rarely faced a serious challenge in winning seven terms in the House before Governor Corzine appointed him last month to serve the remaining year of Corzine's term in the Senate – has been building a bankroll for years. His staff said he raised $362,000 in the fourth quarter, bringing his 2005 total raised to more than $3.8 million. Menendez had more than $4.2 million in the bank at the end of the year.
"The joy of being in congressional leadership and never having a competitive race is it lets you keep stuffing money in the bank," said Jennifer Duffy, managing editor of The Cook Political Report.
more...
Menendez far ahead of Kean in stockpiling campaign funds
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
By HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez had nearly five times as much campaign money in the bank at the end of 2005 as Republican Thomas Kean Jr., his likely opponent in November for a six-year Senate term, reports filed Tuesday show.
But Kean has a well-known name as the son of one of the state's most popular former governors, and some early polls have shown him ahead or running neck-and-neck with Menendez. That's a sharp contrast to recent statewide races where Republican candidates trailed from start to finish.
"We feel very comfortable we're going to be able to raise the funds we're going to need to be successful," said Evan Kozlow, Kean's campaign manager.
Kean, a Republican state senator from Westfield, began fund-raising in March, and received nearly $1.1 million by year's end. He had $860,571 on hand on Dec. 31, Tuesday's report shows.
Menendez -- who rarely faced a serious challenge in winning seven terms in the House before Governor Corzine appointed him last month to serve the remaining year of Corzine's term in the Senate – has been building a bankroll for years. His staff said he raised $362,000 in the fourth quarter, bringing his 2005 total raised to more than $3.8 million. Menendez had more than $4.2 million in the bank at the end of the year.
"The joy of being in congressional leadership and never having a competitive race is it lets you keep stuffing money in the bank," said Jennifer Duffy, managing editor of The Cook Political Report.
more...