AP: Two Democratic Senators Visit NC In Hagan Fundraiser; The appearance of the two Democratic senators is a sign of the party's commitment to Hagan's race
Raleigh, NC — Democratic Senate candidate Kay Hagan held a private fundraiser Monday that highlighted the two things she’ll need most to run a competitive campaign against incumbent GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole: money and support from Democrats on Capitol Hill.
The event featuring Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, Montana Sen. Jon Tester was expected to generate lots of fresh cash for Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro embarking on her first statewide general election campaign.
“The hardest thing to do when you’re running against an incumbent senator is to raise money,” McCaskill said. “Elizabeth Dole is going to get money from all the lobbyists and all the companies that don’t want things to change in Washington. And believe me, there’s serious money in that cause.”
Hagan has raised some $150,000 from such groups. That pales in comparison to the more than $930,000 that Dole has raised from political action committees and other political campaigns.
The appearance of the two Democratic senators is a sign of the party’s commitment to Hagan’s race. Democrats consider Dole vulnerable, citing her work with the unpopular Bush administration.
“It looks to be one of the closest races in the country, and we think Kay Hagan has a great shot to capture the seat,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesman with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Facing re-election for the first time, Dole had already banked $3.2 million for her bid as of mid-April, when Hagan reported having $317,000 cash on hand. Hagan has said she will need about $10 million to mount a strong challenge.
Dole hit the airwaves two weeks ago with the first television ad of the general election season, spending half a million dollars to tout her work on illegal immigration. The Republican was back on television with a new ad on Monday, highlighting her work on a tobacco buyout program and to support the state’s military posts during the last round of base closings.
“We’re trying to show Sen. Dole’s proven record of results on various issues,” said Dole campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley. “We’re showing exactly what she’s been able to do for the state as a freshman senator.”
Dole had a national profile before she won election in North Carolina six years ago. Her husband, Bob, was the Republican presidential nominee in 1996, and four years later she ran a White House campaign of her own. Prior to that run, Dole served as a cabinet secretary for two presidents.
