Porter, Gallagher stay close in their fundraising efforts

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The dash for cash intensified in August and September in the race for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.

Republican incumbent Rep. Jon Porter raised $345,597 and Democrat Tom Gallagher raised $395,025, according to reports the candidates planned to file today with the Federal Election Commission.

The reports covered fundraising from Aug. 19 to Sept. 30.

Gallagher had $391,128 in cash on hand for the final few weeks of the race; Porter had $848,610, according to the reports.

Gallagher, a lawyer and former hotel executive, has raised a total of about $1.4 million. Porter, a former insurance salesman, state senator and Boulder City mayor, has raised $2.2 million.

Gallagher has contributed about $486,000 to his own campaign. That's up about $35,000 from mid-August.

Gallagher did not expect to raise as much as incumbent Porter, but he met his own fundraising expectations, campaign manager Josh Geise said.

"We have the resources we need to be competitive," Geise said.

Fundraising is not competitive in three other Nevada congressional races.