Publication Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2004
ELECTION '04
Simitian nears $1 million mark in Senate race
Simitian nears $1 million mark in Senate race
(February 25, 2004) Lempert is being outspent, but has support in 'soft money'
by Don Kazak
The campaigns for the 11th state Senate District Democratic nomination are raking in dollars to pile up votes.
Spending between Assemblyman Joe Simitian and Ted Lempert thus far has resulted in a blizzard of campaign mailers to voters. Simitian has had a television ad in heavy rotation touting his skills as an education advocate, while Lempert has a similar TV ad that began running last week.
As of last week, state Assemblyman Joe Simitian neared the $1 million mark with two more weeks of campaigning and fund raising to go. By last Friday, his campaign collected about $900,000, and he still had a hefty $479,000 in cash on hand for a last-minute ad blitz.
Ted Lempert, meanwhile, is sticking by the $637,000 spending limit set by Proposition 34, a voluntary guideline he chose to follow and Simitian did not.
But the difference in spending narrows when "soft" money spent by independent committees is counted.
A group called Northern Californians for a Strong Economy has spent $165,000 on Lempert's behalf, mostly on television ads. Lempert said he has no control over how that money is spent and, if he had his druthers, might have chosen to spend it differently. A billboard on the Bayshore Freeway supporting Lempert similarly was paid for by the California Medical Association.
Some last-minute "soft" money is also helping Simitian. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association reported a $65,908 expenditure on Simitian's behalf at the end of last week.
Both candidates say they need enough money left over for last minute ads or mailers to respond to any "attack" pieces that may be released in the waning days leading to the March 2 primary.
"We've always been operating on a tight budget, but may have to spend for a late mailer to respond to anything he (Simitian) puts out," Lempert said.
Simitian said that he is not following the Proposition 34 spending limit because he doesn't want to deny himself any support in a race against a tough opponent like Lempert.
Don Kazak can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com.
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