THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 29, 1995                TAG: 9507290314
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE                          LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

SANDERS LEADS HIS SENATE FOE HARVEY GANTT IN FUND RAISING

Charles Sanders not only is raising more money than his likely opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, he's also getting it from some of the same people who supported former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt in 1990.

Sanders and Gantt are expected to vie in the Democratic primary for the chance to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, who has raised more than $1 million this year.

Sanders, retired chairman of the pharmaceutical giant Glaxo Inc., has raised almost $750,000.

Those figures are from reports due next week to the Federal Election Commission. They show how much candidates raised and spent in the first six months of the year.

With a $100,000 loan to his own campaign, Sanders raised $747,000, said spokesman Chuck Carr. Gantt, on the other hand, raised virtually nothing, The Charlotte Observer reported.

``For the first six months of this year, the only thing I recall coming in is some refunds and interest income,'' said Gantt treasurer Bobby Martin. ``There may not have been any contributions at all.''

In 1990 Helms beat Gantt 53 percent to 47 percent. Helms spent almost $18 million; Gantt, almost $8 million. Martin said Gantt's campaign has about $10,000 in the bank. Sanders' has $494,000.

``Charlie Sanders offers a new alternative to put against Jesse Helms,'' Carr said. ``And the support that he's received in this first reporting period shows he can win, which is the name of the game.''

Charlotte attorney Mark Bernstein also raised money for Gantt in 1990 and now has given money to Sanders. He said Sanders' campaign contacted him months ago, but he has yet to hear from Gantt.

``I just didn't realize he was going to run. . . . I had not heard that,'' Bernstein said. ``Nobody has called me or talked to me or anything at all.''

Gantt has made no secret of his desire to run ever since 1990. He hasn't hired a campaign staff but has signed on Washington consultants. Friends say there's no doubt he's in the race.

``People who underestimate Harvey made a mistake the last time,'' said a source involved in both Gantt campaigns. ``It is very early. I have total confidence that the resources Harvey needs will be there and that he'll beat Sanders in the primary.''

KEYWORDS: CAMPAIGN FINANCE CANDIDATE PRIMARY U.S. SENATE by CNB