Ensign has double the cash for TV ads than Bernstein

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

Republican John Ensign has more than twice as much cash on hand as Democratic foe Ed Bernstein as they enter the homestretch of their U.S. Senate race.

In federal campaign finance reports filed Monday, Ensign reported $825,074 cash on hand as of Sept. 30, compared to $341,665 for Bernstein. Cash on hand is significant because it measures a candidate's relative ability to finance more television advertising.

Through the first nine months of the year Ensign spent nearly $3.1 million and raised nearly $2 million. Bernstein spent $1.7 million and raised only $777,395 during the same period in addition to the $888,000 he lent his campaign from personal accounts. However, Bernstein did not take out any additional personal loans for the period from mid-August through Sept. 30.

Ensign's fund-raising prowess, which includes heavy contributions from gaming executives, continued during that six-week stretch of late summer, when he out-raised Bernstein $478,763 to $241,625. He also outspent Bernstein $857,368 to $581,099. During that period, Ensign spent $574,000 on television ads, compared to Bernstein's $369,430.

Neither campaign was surprised by the numbers but had different interpretations.

"John Ensign has spent two years reaching out to more than 12,000 individual contributors, and Bernstein has spent six months reaching into his pocket," Ensign campaign manager Mike Slanker said. "All he has to do is reach into his pocket again, and he can buy himself another couple weeks."

Kelley Benander, spokeswoman for Bernstein, said Ensign has relied heavily on special interest money.

"It just makes it clear what side he's on," Benander said. "We've always known Ensign was going to out-raise and out-spend us."

What the figures for Ensign and Bernstein do not reflect are the hundreds of thousands of dollars in soft money both national parties began spending last month on negative TV ads against each other's candidate.

Unlike the hard money figures that appear on candidates' financial disclosure forms that represent donations from individuals and political action committees, soft money is unregulated and can be donated in unlimited amounts to political parties.

The candidate reports also do not reflect independent expenditures made by PACs that favor particular candidates. An example are the billboards and mailers the National Rifle Association is financing to back Ensign.

Ensign, who has been one of the nation's leading recipients of PAC money since he served in the House from 1995 to 1998, has raised $681,762 from PACs this year, including $199,998 in the six weeks ending Sept. 30. Bernstein has raised only $215,074 from PACs this year, including only $76,900 during late summer.

"It crystalizes the differences," Benander said. "It makes Ed's case that he is standing up for the people while Ensign stands for special interests."

But Slanker said the campaign finance numbers prove that Ensign is working from a solid base of support.

"Bernstein has taken in more money from Hollywood than Reno, and he's taking more money from Florida sugar farmers than Nevada ranchers," Slanker said.

Ensign's largest PAC contributions during late summer included $5,000 each from the Freedom Project, Americans for Free International Trade, Bluegrass Committee, Fund for American Opportunity, International Paper, Good Government for America, Real Estate Investment Trusts, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers, Solutions America, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Cable Television Association and Bank One Corp.

The former congressman, attacked by Bernstein for his pro-life stand on abortion, also received $1,000 from the National Pro Life Alliance PAC of Annandale, Va. Ensign also received $7,500 earmarked through the National Republican Senatorial Committee and separate contributions from Sens. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and Michael Crapo, R-Idaho.

Ensign also has received $34,450 this year in contributions from a summer golf tournament hosted by Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Don Nickles, R-Okla., to benefit GOP Senate candidates.

Bernstein received $5,000 each from MOPAC, CWA-Cope Political Contributions Committee, NEA Fund For Children and Public Education, Americans For Responsible Leadership, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Teachers and National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

Bernstein, a personal injury attorney who has received heavy contributions from fellow lawyers, also received $1,000 each from Hollywood giants Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen and $1,000 from Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.V.