Brownback, Six and Biggs ahead in fundraising

TOPEKA —In a final snapshot of candidates' finances before Tuesday's election, Republican gubernatorial hopeful U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback again is leading in fundraising.

Brownback had more than $2 million to spend in the past three months of the campaign and has outspent his opponent by a 3-to-1 ratio.

Brownback raised $864,011, bringing his campaign cash to about $2 million. His campaign has spent $1.41 million of that, with much of the money — $669,044 —paying to produce and place advertising.

Candidates for statewide, legislative and local races had until midnight Monday to file campaign finance reports covering July 23 to Oct. 21. Campaigns must file last-minute contributions of $300 or more, but smaller amounts will not be reported until after the election.

Brownback was "humbled and thrilled" by the support, said campaign spokeswoman Sherriene Jones-Sontag.

"He is hopeful these contributions will lead to a clean sweep for the Kansas Republican Party up and down the ballot as voters choose the Kansas way — not the Obama way," she said.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful state Sen. Tom Holland raised $366,014 during the past three months and spent $394,914 of the $469,393 he had available.

The largest expenditures were $99,900 for radio and television advertising and $14,400 to the Kansas Democratic Party for campaign services.

Another race attracting a lot of money is for state attorney general. Democratic incumbent Steve Six pulled in $368,393 during the past three months, increasing his campaign coffers to just over $1 million. Of that, he spent $955,816.

His opponent, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, raised $283,389 and spent $356,195 of the $388,705 he had available.

In the secretary of state race, Democrat incumbent Chris Biggs leads in fundraising, pulling in $218,142 and spending $241,199 of the $251,914 he had available. The largest expense was $81,663 for radio and TV advertising.

Republican Kris Kobach raised $136,810 and spent $95,560 of the $226,153 he had available.

About half of Kobach's expenditures, $46,127, went to The Singularis Group, a Johnson County-based political consulting group that has strong ties to the state Republican Party.

This story was originally published October 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Brownback, Six and Biggs ahead in fundraising."