Heller, Berkley each raise $1.1 million in latest period

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate candidates from Nevada are virtually even not just in the polls, but also at the bank.

Republican Sen. Dean Heller and Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley on Thursday each reported raising $1.1 million in campaign donations during the last three months of the year.

Heading into 2012 and what political handicappers say will be a close and hard-fought race, only $100,000 separates the amount of cash each has available to spend moving forward: Berkley has $3.75 million while Heller has
$3.65 million.

The fundraising totals announced by the campaigns is another indication of the fine line separating the veteran Nevada politicians. The most recent poll, conducted in mid-December for the Review-Journal and 8NewsNow, showed Berkley with a 1-point lead.

The October-through-December period marked the third consecutive quarter that Berkley, a seven-term House member from Las Vegas said to be an energetic fundraiser, topped $1 million in donations.

Heller rebounded from the third quarter that saw him raise $675,000. That tally generated concern among Republicans about the ability of the appointed senator and former congressman from Carson City to attract campaign cash compared with his opponent.

Heller in October unveiled a "Team Dean" campaign, inviting small donors to contribute $12 per month or more and supplementing his outreach to larger givers and political action committees. Heller's campaign said Thursday more than 1,900 individuals were first-time givers to Heller during the quarter.

All in all, Heller reported receiving money from 2,855 individuals, with more than 2,100 giving $200 or less.

Both camps claimed momentum in the race.

"Thousands of people from all across Nevada responded in just a few short months to Dean Heller's message of smaller government, a balanced federal budget, and getting Nevadans back to work," said Mike Slanker, Heller's lead campaign consultant.

Berkley attracted 4,101 donors, a sign that her message is resonating broadly, spokesman Eric Koch said.

"Each quarter of this campaign Shelley Berkley has consistently brought in the resources needed to ensure that voters understand the clear choice in this election between her commitment to job creation and the middle class, and Dean Heller's commitment to Wall Street banks and Big Oil executives," Koch said.

Heller held at least six fundraising events in Washington during the quarter, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit that attempts to track money in politics. In addition, Gov. Brian Sandoval was the scheduled attraction at Heller fundraisers in Reno and Las Vegas last month.

Berkley was the beneficiary of former President Bill Clinton's appearance at a fundraiser for her in Las Vegas on Saturday. It was not clear how many, if any, checks may have arrived early enough to be counted in December.

Barry Ellsworth, a former renewable energy executive from Las Vegas who announced this week he would oppose Berkley in the June 12 Democratic primary, has not yet reported on his campaign finances. Candidates that meet certain fundraising thresholds are required to file comprehensive reports to the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31.

The full reports provide further details of how much the candidates received from industry and ideological political action committees and how the campaigns are spending their money.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.