Halter leads in fundraising among lieutenant governor hopefuls

Halter leads in fundraising among lieutenant governor hopefuls

LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Former Clinton administration official Bill Halter reported Monday that he had raised $838,600 during March, more than any of his three opponents for the Democratic nomination.

Halter is running against former state Rep. Mike Hathorn of Huntsville, Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould and state Rep. Jay Martin of North Little Rock

Halter lent his campaign $700,300, according to his report, and spent $314,453.81, with most - $278,981.70 - going toward television advertising.

Halter, who dropped out of the race for governor last month, reported raising $687,798.69 in March for his gubernatorial bid but a campaign spokesman said he is in the process of returning those donations.

Hathorn raised $40,226, bringing his total to $355,794. Hathorn spent $20,621.99 and ended the month with $155,605.33 in cash on hand.

Wooldridge raised $38,636, bringing his total to $413,533.96. he spent $89,751.83 and ended the month with $191,959.84 in cash on hand.

Martin raised $17,645, bringing his total contributions to $173,571.50. He spent $17,755 and ended the month with $100,691.03 in cash on hand.

Republican lieutenant governor candidate and state Rep. Doug Matayo of Springdale raised $19,225 last month, bringing his total contributions to $56,450.50. Matayo spent $10,650.26 and ended the mont with $14,775.57 in cash on hand.

Former federal prosecutor Chuck Banks, who is also running for the post, raised $17,799 last month, bringing his total contributions to $240,153. Banks spent $17,064.46 last month and ended the month with $169,796.72 in cash on hand.

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jim Holt, a state senator from Springdale, had not filed his report late Monday.

State Rep. Dustin McDaniel of Jonesboro continued to outraise his opponents for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, raising $153,494.99 last month. McDaniel has raised a total $552,336.78.

McDaniel lent his campaign $135,000 last month, according to his report.

McDaniel, who is running against North Little Rock City Attorney Paul Suskie and Saline County Prosecutor Robert Herzfeld, spent $64,571.20 and ended the month with $207,091.33 in cash on hand.

Suskie raised $50,079.99, bringing his total contributions to $350,085.60. He spent $39,746 and ended the moth with $236,577.54 in cash on hand.

Herzfeld raised $48,529.89, bringing his total contributions to $310,841.14. He spent $15, 284.39 and ended the month with $186,331.46 in cash on hand.

Herzfeld lent his campaign $1,691.89 during March, according to his reports.

Gunner DeLay, a former state senator from Fort Smith and the only Republican running for attorney general, had not filed his report late Monday.

In the state treasurer's race, Mac Campbell led in fundraising with $40,515, bringing his total contributions to $184,890. Campbell, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, spent $8,113.64 and ended the month with $114,012.20 in cash on hand.

Campbell is running against Newport real estate agent Marth Shoffner and former state Rep. Don House of Walnut Ridge for the Democratic nomination. Shoffner raised $20,300 last month, bringing her total contributions to $86,750. Shoffner spent $10,950.88 last month and ended with $69,470.27 in cash on hand. Reports for House and Chris Morris, a staffer to Gov. Mike Huckabee and the only Republican running for the post, were not available late Monday.