Reid Adds to War Chest, Raising $3.25 Million in Second Quarter
Nevada Republicans can’t seem to find a top-tier candidate to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010. And new fundraising figures disclosed by Reid Tuesday won’t help the GOP in those efforts.
Reid said his reelection campaign had pulled in $3.25 million in the second quarter and had $7.3 million in the bank at the end of June, an announcement clearly meant to deter a serious GOP challenge..
“Having raised nearly $11 million [total in the cycle], Reid has already brought in nearly half of the $25 million he is planning to raise, with 16 months left until the November 2010 election,” his campaign crowed in a release.
Reid’s second quarter haul is a jump from the $2.2 million he raised in the first quarter of 2009. He got a boost from a Las Vegas fundraiser attended by President Obama in May. The Democrat’s full fundraising report, due to the Federal Election Commission by midnight Wednesday, will provide more detail on when donations were made and from whom.
No top-tier Republican has yet to jump in the race for the seat, despite Reid’s sluggish poll numbers in Nevada. Former Rep. Jon Porter ruled out a run in June. The biggest name currently circulating is second-term Rep. Dean Heller, who represents Nevada’s 2nd District and sits on the House’s powerful Ways and Means Committee.