Cotton widens fundraising lead for south Ark. seat
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Republican Tom Cotton widened his fundraising lead among his rivals for a south Arkansas U.S. House seat over the first three months of the year and apparently raised more money than any congressional candidate in the state over that time, campaign finance reports show.
Cotton, an Army veteran from Dardanelle who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, reported over the weekend that he raised $352,504 in his bid for the 4th district seat being vacated by outgoing Democratic Rep. Mike Ross. Cotton is running against Beth Anne Rankin and John Cowart in the May 22 GOP primary for the seat.
Cotton spent $190,373 during the quarter and has $638,223 cash on hand. Cotton, who has enjoyed the backing of national conservative groups such as the Club for Growth, has raised $890,102 since launching his bid last year.
Rankin, who was Miss Arkansas 1994 and who worked as an aide to Mike Huckabee, trailed Cotton in with $127,236 raised during the quarter. Rankin, who won the party's nomination for the seat in 2010 and has been endorsed by Huckabee, spent $68,938 and had $234,818 cash on hand. Rankin has raised $365,850 since announcing her candidacy last year.
Cowart, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, raised $22,984 during the quarter. Cowart spent $16,388 and had $9,932 cash on hand.
Hot Springs Attorney Q. Byrum Hurst, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat, raised $102,489 and spent $7,178 during the quarter. Hurst has $95,310 cash on hand.
Reports were not available on the Federal Election Commission website Monday for state Sen. Gene Jeffress and Little Rock businessman D.C. Morrison, who are also seeking the Democratic nomination in the 4th district.
In the 1st district in east Arkansas, Republican Rep. Rick Crawford rebounded from sluggish fundraising at the end of the year and brought in more than his three Democratic challengers combined. Crawford, who was elected in 2010, raised $239,370 and spent $70,036. He had $459,659 cash on hand.
State Rep. Clark Hall fared the best among the three Democrats running to challenge Crawford. Hall raised $98,828 and spent $100,315. He had $130,257 cash on hand and reported that his campaign owes him $32,036.
Prosecutor Scott Ellington raised $19,955 and spent $13,978. He had $5,976 cash on hand. Arkansas State University Economist Gary Latanich raised $18,894 and spent $36,961. Latanich had $1,512 cash on hand and reported that his campaign owes him $20,000.
Rep. Tim Griffin, a freshman Republican representing central Arkansas' 2nd district, raised $225,726 and spent $128,148. Griffin had $577,866 cash on hand. A report was not available for Herb Rule, a former state legislator and the only Democrat running for Griffin's seat.
Rep. Steve Womack, a freshman Republican representing northwest Arkansas' 3rd district, raised $86,877 and spent $26,831. Womack had $289,244 cash on hand. He reported owing $2,797 to three vendors. A report was not available for Ken Aden, the only Democrat running for Womack's seat.
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Andrew DeMillo can be reached at www.twitter.com/ademillo
