Dole's Campaign War Chest Dwindling

WASHINGTON (Reuter, Apr. 20) -- Republican Bob Dole's presidential campaign spent a net $5.3 million during March, according to a monthly report filed to the Federal Election Commission and made public Saturday.

Spokeswoman Christina Martin said the committee to elect Dole, the prospective Republican nominee, was about $2 million away from the $37 million spending limit imposed by federal election laws for its total spending between now and the Republican National Convention in August.

That is nowhere near as large a campaign war chest as President Clinton had at the end of March, according to figures filed by the Clinton campaign last week.

The Clinton campaign had about $20 million left at the end of March after spending $2.8 million during the month.

In addition to reporting $16.6 million cash on hand, the Clinton campaign said it expected to receive an additional $3.6 million in matching funds from the federal government. That will give the president almost $20 million to spend between now and the Democratic National Convention in August.

The Dole campaign reported about $718,000 in cash on hand at the end of March and had taken in $1.3 million during the month in contributions, Martin said.

Dole, the Senate majority leader, has already raised the maximum amount permitted for the primary campaign and will not have access to any new funds until after the Republican National Convention in August.

The Dole campaign had to spend heavily in a bruising primary campaign against several contenders, including wealthy magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes, while Clinton was able to run unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.

That gives Clinton a significant advantage over Dole as the political season heats up leading up to November 5 presidential elections. Dole is expected to have to carefully ration his campaign trips around the country, since travel must be paid for by the candidate himself and not by his party.

Dole's Campaign War Chest Dwindling

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