Senate’s Raggio far outraises Angle

CARSON CITY -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, locked in a tough Reno GOP primary battle with former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, has reported close to $300,000 in contributions for his re-election bid.

Contributions to Raggio, who is running for what would be his last term in the Senate because of term limits, far exceed those reported by Angle, who has raised nearly $35,000, her campaign report shows.

Angle reports spending nearly $31,000 of the total through the July 31 reporting period.

Raggio has raised just under $290,000 and spent just under $200,000, according to his report.

The primary is set for Tuesday, and early voting is under way.

Angle says her record is one of opposition to tax increases and increased state spending.

Raggio has stressed his experience and leadership in his campaign, noting that the upcoming session, with the threat of major budget cuts, would benefit from his years in office.

Raggio was first elected to the Senate in 1972.

He said Wednesday that he has sought out contributions in part to direct the money to other Republican Senate races with the goal of retaining what is now a razor-thin 11-10 majority over Democrats.

Raggio said he did not anticipate a primary challenge by Angle, who left the Assembly in 2006 to run for Congress, losing narrowly to Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., in that GOP primary.

Raggio said polling numbers he has been made aware of in his race "sound good," but he declined to provide any specifics.

"The issue is getting people out to vote," he said. "The primary is earlier than ever, and we're probably looking at low turnout. Most of our expenses have been aimed at getting out the vote."

Raggio received a $5,000 contribution from R&R Partners of Las Vegas and $5,000 each from Wynn Resorts and Wynn Las Vegas, among others.

Angle received $5,000 from the Liberty Oil and Refining Association of Las Vegas. Most of her contributions came from individuals, many of whom live in the affluent community of Incline Village at Lake Tahoe.

In addition, Angle gave her campaign $5,000 from her failed 2006 congressional bid.

She could not be reached for comment.

By SEAN WHALEY

REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

Contributions to Raggio, who is running for what would be his last term in the Senate because of term limits, far exceed those reported by Angle, a conservative who said her record is one of opposition to tax increases and increased state spending.

Raggio has stressed his experience and leadership in his campaign, noting that the upcoming session, with the threat of major budget cuts, would benefit from his years in office. He was first elected to the Senate in 1972.

Angle has raised nearly $35,000 in her bid to oust Raggio, her campaign report shows. Angle reports spending nearly $31,000 of the total through the July 31 reporting period. The primary is Tuesday and early voting is under way.

Raggio has raised just under $290,000 and spent just under $200,000, according to his report.

Raggio said Wednesday he has sought out contributions in part to direct the money to other Senate races with the goal of retaining what is now a razor -thin 11-10 majority.

But Raggio said he did not anticipate a primary challenge by Angle, who left the Assembly in 2006 to run for Congress, losing narrowly to Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., in that GOP primary.

Raggio said polling numbers he has been made aware of in his race, "sound good," but he declined to provide any specifics.

"The issue is getting people out to vote," he said. "The primary is earlier than ever and we're probably looking at low turnout. Most of our expenses have been aimed at getting out the vote."

Raggio received $5,000 contributions from R&R Partners of Las Vegas, and $5,000 each from Wynn Resorts and Wynn Las Vegas, among others.

Angle received $5,000 from the Liberty Oil and Refining Association of Las Vegas. Most of her contributions came from individuals, many of whom reside in the affluent community of Incline Village at Lake Tahoe.

Angle also gave her own campaign $5,000 from her failed 2006 Congressional bid.

She could not be reached for comment.