Ensign still lags behind Reid in campaign cash

Buoyed by generous contributions from political action committees, Ensign, R-Nev., raised $583,716 between Aug. 13 and Sept. 30, compared to $539,293 for Reid, the latest reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show.

But Reid, D-Nev., reported $254,271 more in cash on hand than Ensign - $645,410 to $391,139 - for the final stretch of the tight race.

Over the last seven-week reporting period, Ensign collected more than twice as much from political action committees than Reid - $223,752 to $100,850.

Medical and insurance PACs contributed heavily to Ensign. He also received $5,000 from the PAC for Circus Enterprises Inc., whose chief executive officer is Ensign's father. Circus has given Ensign $10,000 for the year, the maximum allowed by law.

The National Rifle Association gave Ensign $4,950, raising its total contributions to his campaign to $7,400 this year.

PACs contributing $5,000 to Ensign included Outback Steakhouse, United Parcel Service, Exxon Corp. and Chevron Corp.

Reid received more from individual donors - $432,113 to Ensign's $345,760. Reid also continued to outspend Ensign in the last reporting period - $1.1 million to $797,347.

In the past two years, Reid has raised $3.2 million while Ensign has gathered $2.7 million. Since his 1992 re-election, Reid has collected $4.6 million.

The race is the most expensive in Nevada history. It has cost nearly $7 million over the last two years, with Reid spending $4.4 million and Ensign $2.5 million.

The previous record was the $5.9 million spent when Democratic challenger Richard Bryan defeated Sen. Chic Hecht, R-Nev., in 1988.

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