Governor Steps Up Fundraising For Democratic Senate Hopefuls

Kaine Tries to Help His Party Regain Control of Chamber

RICHMOND, Sept. 18 -- Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is on a week-long tour to raise money for Democratic candidates in the Nov. 6 elections as he tries to help the party pick up the four seats needed to regain control of the state Senate.

Kaine (D), who says a Democratic majority would help him advance his agenda, has cleared much of his public schedule this week so he can attend fundraisers and call candidates and donors.

Kaine also is gearing up for a major fundraiser next week in Pentagon City that is expected to raise $1 million for his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward.

"We have 49 days to go, so he is going to be working hard between now and Election Day to make sure our candidates have the resources to win in November," said Charles Kelly, the director of Kaine's committee.

J. Scott Leake, a strategist for Senate Republicans, said money from political action committees is helping his party's candidates match Kaine's fundraising prowess.

"There will be hardly any candidates who lose because of a lack of money this year," Leake said. "We are still furiously raising money and will be able to scrape together what our candidates need."

Kaine's efforts come as candidates release their latest campaign finance reports. They show that most of the Democratic Senate candidates who are locked in competitive races are keeping pace with or beating GOP incumbents in the hunt for cash.

In two hotly contested Northern Virginia races, which could help determine who controls the Senate, the Democratic candidates raised more money than the GOP incumbents in July and August.

Democrat George L. Barker, who is challenging Sen. James K. "Jay" O'Brien Jr. (R-Fairfax), raised $150,000, compared with $118,000 for O'Brien. The incumbent has $109,000 in the bank, compared with $90,000 for Barker.

In the 34th District, which includes parts of Fairfax County, Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R) raised $85,000 in July and August. Her Democratic opponent, J. Chapman Petersen, raised $120,000.

Devolites Davis has $500,000 in the bank, compared with $215,000 for Petersen, a former delegate.

In the race between Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) and Democrat Janet S. Oleszek, the GOP has the money advantage.