3 Candidates' Spending Tops Funds Raised in Quarter

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By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 16, 2003; Page A04

Three prominent contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination -- Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) and Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) -- spent more than they raised during the last quarter, depleting crucial resources as the Jan. 19 Iowa caucus and the Jan. 27 New Hampshire primary fast approach.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) barely stayed out of the red for the quarter, raising $3.6 million and spending $3.5 million.

The third-quarter struggles of the four candidates, all members of Congress, sharply contrasted with the performance of former Vermont governor Howard Dean and retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who are campaigning for their party's nomination as outsiders. Both raised substantially more than they spent in the three-month period ending Sept. 30.

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Lieberman spokesman Jano Cabrera said ,"This is one of those times when money actually reflects reality." The Democratic contest, he said, has come down to "Howard Dean versus 'fill in the blank.' "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32287-2003Oct15.html