Maryland's two hottest congressional races are becoming tighter in fund raising, suggesting the contests will remain tantalizingly close to the finish.
In Montgomery County, the nation's most expensive House contest continues to attract imposing sums from inside and outside the district, the momentum slowed only by the terrible distraction of the serial sniper.
Democrat Christopher Van Hollen Jr., depleted of campaign cash after winning a four-candidate primary, has been replenishing his reserves recently at a rate of $20,000 per day as he bids to unseat eight-term Republican Constance A. Morella.
Boosted by a poll showing him slightly ahead, Van Hollen - with the help of party bigwigs - is closing the fund-raising gap on Morella, who still has significantly more cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission records released yesterday.
In the Baltimore area's 2nd District, Republican Helen Delich Bentley raised more money than her Democratic opponent, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, for the first time in their race. In the reporting period from Aug. 22 through Sept. 30, she collected about $255,000 to his $219,000.
Since the campaign started last spring, Ruppersberger has raised about $855,000 to her $589,000, but he also spent more, putting them roughly equal in cash on hand, as of the reporting deadline.
Bentley's report, however, does not include expenditures for the television ads she has been running during the past two weeks promoting her record on protecting the port of Baltimore and her associations with incumbent Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who is giving up the seat to run for governor, and President Bush.
Ruppersberger ran ads in August and last month when he was fending off a strong primary challenge from businessman Oz Bengur, but his campaign has not paid for television time since then. Advertisements plugging his record on senior issues and the environment were paid for by the Democratic Party, not his campaign.
The Washington-area 8th District seat - considered critical by both parties in the battle for control of the House - is being contested as a manhunt continues for a sniper believed responsible for nine deaths, including five in Montgomery County.
Washington news media coverage has tilted away from the election as the shootings have continued, and TV stations have bumped some campaign ads. The candidates have modified their appearance schedules as festivals and other community-sponsored outdoor gatherings have been scrapped.
