McCain Campaign Hires 'Best Bricklayer'

"The people running for governor or senator or president have been among society's winners," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "To get to that point, they always believe they can beat the odds because they've done that before."

There have been exceptions to the rich-losers trend. New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine (D), running for an open Senate seat in 2000, spent more than $60 million of his own funds to win. In 2002, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) won after spending $1.5 million on an abbreviated campaign while Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-Tex.) racked up a landslide victory in 2004 after spending $1.9 million of his own dough -- the vast majority of which was disbursed in the primary election.

Only one person has spent $10 million or more since Corzine. Democrat Blair Hull dropped $29 million of his money on a 2004 Senate run in Illinois but lost badly in the primary after revelations concerning a messy divorce came to light.

What's certain is that Harris's candidacy needs the cash infusion. She trailed Sen. Bill Nelson (D) by $7 million in available cash at the end of 2005.

"Will resources alone ever win elections? No," said Brian Walter, National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman. "It has to go with a grass-roots organization and the ability to get your message out to voters. Which we believe she'll be able to do."

Burns May Have a Primary

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), dogged by controversy over ties to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, could face a primary challenge.

Montana Senate Minority Leader Bob Keenan, a Republican, told state newspapers he is worried about whether Burns can hold the seat this November and is considering challenging the three-term senator in the GOP primary in June.

In recent months Burns has been battered by the media and Democrats over his connections to Abramoff, and he has watched his lead shrink over his two potential Democratic opponents -- state Auditor John Morrison and state Sen. Jon Tester.

A Mason-Dixon poll conducted for Lee Newspapers late last year showed Burns under the 50 percent mark in head-to-head matchups against Morrison and Tester.