In the contest to raise funds for campaigns for the Republican party nomination for United States Congress from the first district of Kansas, figures released this week show four campaigns raising substantial funds, with one campaign far ahead in available funds.
The Republican candidates for this nomination and their campaign websites are physician and Kansas Senator Jim Barnett of Emporia, educator Sue Boldra of Hays, attorney and mediator Marck Cobb of Galva, farmer and Kansas Senator Tim Huelskamp of Fowler, Salina commercial real estate executive Tracey Mann, and Senator Brownback chief of staff Rob Wasinger of Cottonwood Falls.
The figures show Barnett, Mann, and Wasinger in a tight group for funds raised in the second quarter of 2010, the months of April, May, and June. Huelskamp was close behind.
In terms of cash on hand available to use in the sprint to the August 3rd primary, Huelskamp has over twice as much at his disposal. He reports $391,797 on hand, with Barnett, Mann, and Wasinger clustered around half that much cash available.
Barnett lent his campaign $100,000 last year. If he is able and willing to do this again, that would close much of the cash gap.
In a recent poll of the Kansas first district, Barnett and Mann are tied, with Huelskamp just behind, within the poll’s sampling error.
David Ray of the Huelskamp campaign says it is in a good position for the last stretch of the campaign. Its internal polling shows the candidate doing well with conservatives, a group the campaign believes is under-represented in the recent public poll.
Kansas third Congressional district Republican campaign funds for the second quarter of 2010:
Barnett Boldra Huelskamp Mann Wasinger
Contributions 174,235 4,367 128,091 172,901 160,659
Expenditures 342,369 13,406 266,877 251,886 183,567
Cash balance 214,691 10,271 391,797 183,259 190,865