Thompson: $2 million; no GOP reports
Published 12:11 pm Friday, May 21, 2010
None of three candidates running for the Republican nod for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District have reported raising or spending any money, while incumbent U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson reported nearly $2 million on hand, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Bill Marcy of Meridian, Richard Cook of Byram, and George Bailey of Clinton appear on primary ballots June 1. The winner faces Thompson in the Nov. 2 general election. All four of the state’s congressmen are unopposed in their respective primaries.
Primary candidates in Mississippi’s four House races faced a deadline Thursday. Federal election law stipulates candidates who raise or spend $5,000 file a finance report with the Federal Election Commission. When reached Thursday, Marcy estimated about $3,600 had been raised for his campaign to date, a mark below the reporting floor. Bailey did not expect filing a report. Cook could not be reached.
Finance totals for Thompson, first elected in 1993, showed $1,915,027 in cash on hand, with $1,155,728 raised and $524,827 spent. Both were totals through March 31, the most recent quarterly deadline for congressional candidates. Thompson’s available cash at this point in the campaign is nearly $900,000 more than at a similar point in 2008, the most recent congressional election year. Further comparisons show contributions up by more than $224,000 and spending down about $2,000 for Thompson, who defeated Cook in the 2008 primary with 69 percent of the vote.
Mississippi’s other three House races also show incumbents leading the money chase. U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., who faces no primary opposition in the north Mississippi-based 1st District but is forecast to be the closest House race in Mississippi come November, has raised $1,043,257 to date. Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee has raised the most of three in the party’s primary, with $579,720 raised through March. Seven candidates running either independent or third-party campaigns in the 1st District will join the two nominees on the ballot in November.
U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., reported $363,380 through March in the 3rd District. The Woodville-to-Meridian district also covers suburban Jackson. None of three Democrats or two third-party candidates reported raising or spending any money.
U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., reported $298,799 through May 12 in the Gulf Coast-based 4th District. Republican state Sen. Steven Palazzo and businessman Joe Tegerdine have raised $125,260 and $30,742, respectively, through March. Two third-party candidates will appear on the general election ballot.