Marshall leads Amodei in cash for House race

Democratic congressional candidate Kate Marshall had $206,000 cash-on-hand at the end of June 30, or twice as much as her GOP opponent Mark Amodei, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.

That puts the state treasurer's campaign coffers in better starting shape in the fast-paced Sept. 13 special election for the 2nd Congressional District. U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., resigned the seat to complete the Senate term of U.S. Sen. John Ensign, who quit in disgrace after an affair and ethics investigation.

Marshall raised nearly $170,000 in the latest filing period for her, from June 5 to June 30, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. The FEC report showed her with about $206,000 in the bank as of June 30, thanks to her earlier fundraising. Marshall's campaign said she had raised more than $246,000 for the special election so far this year.

About 85 percent of Marshall's money from 573 donors came from people giving $250 or less each, a sign of what her campaign called grass-roots support.

"I'm excited and energized by the overwhelming support Nevadans have shown my campaign," Marshall said in a statement.

Amodei's campaign reported raising nearly $139,000 during the second period -- almost $116,000 from May 30 to June 30, after he won the GOP nomination. The GOP Central Committee on June 18 overwhelmingly nominated Amodei to represent Republicans in the race over two other strong GOP contenders.

Amodei reported more than $99,000 in cash-on-hand as of June 30.

Peter DeMarco, the new communications director for Amodei, said he was pleased by the fundraising because the money started pouring in after Amodei won the nomination.

"Mark's support is growing quickly. Mark's got the momentum," DeMarco said. "We are right where we thought we would be and we're going to be growing."

Marshall became the official Democratic nominee on June 25. But her two main potential Democratic opponents already had dropped out and she had been the presumed party pick for months. Marshall was recruited to run by the national party. And she's got the backing of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who essentially runs the state party.

"She's been Harry Reid's anointed candidate," DeMarco said. "He's been pretty busy twisting arms, but Harry Reid can't buy this race for Kate Marshall."

Republicans have a strong edge in the district, which covers all of Northern and rural Nevada and a slice of Clark County. The seat always has been held by a Republican. There are about 31,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats in the district, so most political handicappers give Amodei the advantage.