Reid raises more money than Ensign in Senate race

But Reid also has spent more, allowing Ensign to narrow the gap in the amount of money the two have available to spend before the November general election.

Both candidates have raised more than $1 million so far this year, according to reports they filed this week with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C.

Reid collected $716,137 in campaign donations from April through June, the period detailed in the latest report. Ensign took in $574,740 for the same period. But Reid spent $542,469 compared to Ensign's $317,987.

At the end of June, Reid still had $1.7 million left in the bank while Ensign reported nearly $1.5 million.

Both continue to raise money aggressively in what has developed into a major race, one monitored by politicians and pundits trying to predict the makeup of the U.S. Senate next year.

Individual contributors provided the lion's share of Reid's money in the past quarter - $518,662. Reid's donations from political action committees accounted for $190,037.

The breakdown for Ensign included $328,543 in individual contributions and $186,158 from political action committees. The 2-term congressman also received $10,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Ensign, a former casino executive whose father is chairman and chief executive officer of Circus Circus, got generous contributions from the casino industry.

Prominent contributors to Ensign's campaign included International Game Technology chairman Charles Mathewson of Reno and Las Vegas casino executive Frank Fertitta who donated $1,000 each. Fertitta also gave Ensign $1,000 earlier to raise his total to $2,000.

Ensign also got $1,000 from Mark Juliano, president of Caesars Palace in Atlantic City.

Gaming PACs representing Circus Circus, Boyd Gaming and Mirage Resorts Inc. contributed $5,000 each to Ensign. Showboat gave him $2,500 and Tropicana donated $1,000.

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