Overall spending by House and Senate candidates in 2008 declined nearly 3 percent compared with 2006, and the money candidates took in also dropped, though not as steeply.
The data are contained in a recent report released by the Federal Election Commission.
The data also provide top 50 lists for various categories including the top spenders, the highest debts owed and the incumbents that entered the 2009-10 election cycle with the most cash-on-hand.
Several local candidates made the lists.
Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, ranked 33rd nationally in terms of money spent by incumbent House members. He was 42nd in terms of money raised, bringing in $2.51 million. His successful election battle against Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta cost him $3.153 million.
Barletta didn’t get off the hook easy.
He’s ranked 24th on the list of highest debt by House challengers, listing $263,170 in money owed at the end of the cycle.
Barletta and Kanjorski might square off again this year. Barletta has announced another run, but he’ll have to beat Monroe County resident Chris Page to have another shot at Kanjorski. That’s, of course, if Kanjorski opts to run again.
His campaign spokesman from previous elections sent out a release last week saying he was representing the 13-term congressman, but stopped short of announcing Kanjorski was seeking reelection.
Barletta wasn’t the only local challenger to make the top 50 House challenger list of most debt at the end of 2008.
Dan Meuser, who lost a Republican primary election race to fellow Back Mountain businessman Chris Hackett in 2008, ranked number 2 nationally with a debt of $1.89 million. He held that position on the list for House challengers and for overall congressional candidates.
Hackett went on to lose to U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, in the general election. Carney appeared on just one of the 12 incumbent House lists released with the report.
Read the full Scranton Times article here
Tags: Paul Kanjorski
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