U.S. Senate candidates continue race to bank

WASHINGTON - The leading contenders for U.S. Senate from Nevada continue to race to the bank with deposit slips in hand in the weeks leading to the state's June 12 primary election, official reports made public Wednesday show.

Nothing in the summaries released by the campaigns dispelled the notion that the race between incumbent Sen. Dean Heller and challenger Rep. Shelley Berkley will be close and costly.

Democrat Berkley raised $636,839 between April 1 and May 23, the period covered by the latest disclosures required by the Federal Election Commission. She outraised Republican Heller, who gained $437,995.

But Berkley also spent more, buying airtime in the Reno market for three television commercials that sought to introduce the Las Vegas congresswoman to Northern Nevada voters and play up her work for military veterans, a perceived strength.

Berkley spent $941,122, more than double Heller's expenses of $414,545.

Heller, a former U.S. House member from Carson City who was appointed to the Senate in May 2011, has not yet taken to the airwaves.

At the end of the reporting period, Heller's bank account contained
$4.26 million while Berkley's had
$4.11 million.

Over the seven-week race in April and May to build campaign coffers, Heller drew almost a third of his money from industry and special-interest political action committees and 69 percent from individuals.

Berkley raised most of her money from individuals, with industry and interest PACs constituting less than 10 percent of her haul.

Berkley, the choice of establishment Democrats, faces four challengers in the party's primary but is expected to emerge with little problem. Same for Heller as an incumbent facing four little-known Republicans on the primary ballot.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.