The race is on, not so much for votes at this early stage, but definitely for money as candidates fuel their campaign machines for U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire next year.
Through Sept. 30, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings on Oct. 15, Democrat Paul Hodes leads the money race with about $1.5 million cash on hand.
Republican Kelly Ayotte reported cash of $563,121.
For Hodes, the current congressman from the Second District, it was a race that started in February when he announced he would seek the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Judd Gregg.
He reported net receipts of $1,620,889 and net disbursements so far of $472,629. He reported having no debt.
His report lists 1,154 individual contributors as well as contributions from a variety of political action committees (PACs) representing labor unions. He also received contributions from fellow Democrats in Congress, including U.S. representatives Niki Tsongas and John Tierney from Massachusetts, and from Henry Waxman of California, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Ayotte resigned in July as Granite State's attorney general to explore a senate bid and to start raising money for a candidacy she made official a few weeks ago.
Her report shows net receipts of $613,111 between July 20 and Sept. 30. He had disbursements of $49,990 and reported debt of $3,762.
Among her contributors were former Republican Gov. Craig Benson, who originally appointed Ayotte as attorney general, and former George Bush White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. The lodging industry has also taken an interest in Ayotte with contributions through PACs.
There are other Republicans in the race:
- Ovide Lamontagne, Manchester lawyer and former congressional candidate;
- William Binnie, Rye, heads up Carlisle Capital Corp., based in Portsmouth and owns the Wentworth-by-the-Sea Country Club;
- James Bender, Hollis businessman.
But they only recently joined the fray and have no filings yet with the Federal Election Commission.
Sean Mahoney, a Portsmouth publisher and Republican National Committee member, is also considering a run.
For more information here are the candidates' campaign web sites:
Paul Hodes for Senate
Kelly Ayotte for Senate
Ovide 2010
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