THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 15, 1994 TAG: 9410150229
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Despite Republican Oliver L. North's record-breaking fund-raising pace, he entered the final month of the U.S. Senate campaign with virtually the same amount of money in the bank as Democratic rival Charles S. Robb.
North had raised $15 million for his Senate bid as of Sept. 30 and spent all but $1,040,000 of that sum, according to a campaign disclosure statement he filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission.
Robb had raised about $5 million and had a $1,025,000 balance in his account at the end of September, according to his report.
Despite North's considerable advantage over Robb in raising money, the report suggests that neither candidate entered the final month of the campaign with a cash advantage for purchasing all-important television advertising time. Recent polls show the two candidates are running in a dead heat.
``We've got enough money to be able to get our message to the people of Virginia on Nov. 8,'' said Bert Rohrer, a spokesman for Robb.
But North spokesman Dan McLagan said the GOP hopeful's campaign has raised $2 million more since Sept. 30, putting the candidate well on the way to shattering the all-time record for contributions to a U.S. Senate candidate - $17.8 million set by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., in 1990.
Independent candidate J. Marshall Coleman reported raising a total of $528,000 - including a $150,000 personal loan he made to his campaign last month. Coleman said he has $302,000 left in the bank.
The reports showed that North has been able to raise money at more than four times the pace of Robb between July 1 and Sept. 30. During that period, North collected $6.6 million in donations while Robb reaped $1.5 million.
The reports also showed that North is spending money at almost eight times the pace of Robb. North shelled out $6.3 million from July through September - much of it spent of direct-mail fund-raising. Robb spent $814,000 during the same period.
Coleman, who is running a distant third in the race, raised $243,000 during the last three months and spent $166,000.
Anson Franklin, Coleman's campaign manager, said the independent will have ample money to remain competitive during the final weeks of the campaign.
``Unlike North and Robb, Marshall Coleman does not have a tainted past that has to be explained away with millions of dollars of TV advertising,'' he said.
KEYWORDS: SENATE RACE CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN FINANCES by CNB