Rossi outraises Murray in July
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Republican Dino Rossi raised nearly double the amount of money that Democratic Sen. Patty Murray did last month, but he still has less in the bank in his effort to oust the three-term incumbent.
New campaign finance reports released by his campaign Thursday afternoon show Rossi raised $573,672 last month, compared to the $293,486 raised by Murray during the same period.
Murray, who is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, spent about $3.9 million last month, most of it for advertising. Rossi spent about $152,000 in July.
Rossi has about $1.8 million in the bank, compared to Murray's $3.2 million.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to travel to Washington to raise money for Murray on Aug. 17, which is primary election day.
Rossi raised more than $517,000 in individual contributions, and brought in an additional 56,500 through political committees. Murray had only $265,000 in individual donations, and another $37,000 from political committees.
Murray faces several candidates in Washington's top two primary, including Rossi, a two-time gubernatorial runner-up. Also in the primary is former Washington Redskins player Clint Didier, who has been endorsed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Didier, whose campaign has not gained much traction, has joined forces with another little-known Republican candidate, Paul Akers, and they put out a joint radio ad this week.
National Republicans courted Rossi aggressively after polls earlier this year showed he would be competitive.
The race between the two has heated up in the past week, with a new TV ad in which Murray criticizes Rossi for favoring repeal of the new financial regulations. That bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama last month, imposes the stiffest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the Great Depression.
In response, Rossi criticized the Murray campaign's negative tone and noted that Murray voted in favor of the bailouts that are mentioned in her ad, as images of George W. Bush are flashed on the screen.
Last month, Murray was the target of a Washington, D.C.-based conservative group that called into question her "mom in tennis shoes" status.
New campaign finance reports released by his campaign Thursday afternoon show Rossi raised $573,672 last month, compared to the $293,486 raised by Murray during the same period.
Murray, who is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, spent about $3.9 million last month, most of it for advertising. Rossi spent about $152,000 in July.
Rossi has about $1.8 million in the bank, compared to Murray's $3.2 million.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to travel to Washington to raise money for Murray on Aug. 17, which is primary election day.
Rossi raised more than $517,000 in individual contributions, and brought in an additional 56,500 through political committees. Murray had only $265,000 in individual donations, and another $37,000 from political committees.
Murray faces several candidates in Washington's top two primary, including Rossi, a two-time gubernatorial runner-up. Also in the primary is former Washington Redskins player Clint Didier, who has been endorsed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Didier, whose campaign has not gained much traction, has joined forces with another little-known Republican candidate, Paul Akers, and they put out a joint radio ad this week.
National Republicans courted Rossi aggressively after polls earlier this year showed he would be competitive.
The race between the two has heated up in the past week, with a new TV ad in which Murray criticizes Rossi for favoring repeal of the new financial regulations. That bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama last month, imposes the stiffest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the Great Depression.
In response, Rossi criticized the Murray campaign's negative tone and noted that Murray voted in favor of the bailouts that are mentioned in her ad, as images of George W. Bush are flashed on the screen.
Last month, Murray was the target of a Washington, D.C.-based conservative group that called into question her "mom in tennis shoes" status.