Chris Cannon, Merrill Cook and Tom Draschil are funding most of their U.S. House races themselves.
- Todd Neilson has loaned his campaign half its funds, much of the rest coming from Southern California residents.- Ross Anderson is getting much of his money from lawyer friends.
- Kelly Atkinson trails the pack in fund-raising.
Pre-primary Federal Election Commission reports were due in the Lieutenant Governor's office on Thursday night. U.S. House candidates Reps. Bill Orton and Jim Hansen and Democrat Greg Sanders don't have primaries; they file later.
Cannon is the king of spending. He's raised $439,459 and spent $429,188. Cannon, a multimillionaire who originally made his money in Geneva Steel with brother Joe, has loaned his campaign $329,683. Since his GOP convention win, Cannon has loaned his campaign $130,000. Cannon faces Draschil in the 3rd Congressional District GOP primary.
Cook is second in spending. He has always funded his own campaigns, and this year is no different. Cook has raised $342,899 and so far spent $342,855. Cook has given his campaign $335,314, most of that - $226,914 - coming in personal checks written since the Republican state convention.
Cook has only $43.45 in cash in his campaign account, but that's OK. Cook just writes another check himself when his campaign needs money. His report shows he's been depositing between $10,000 and $40,000 a week the past several weeks. Cook said he'd spend a quarter-million dollars on his seven-week primary race, and it appears he has - his latest report shows he's spent $253,000 since the convention.
Cook and Neilson vie for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District.
Neilson's report is interesting because of where the individual contributions are coming from. His report is peppered with contributions from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
Neilson is the founder and partner in a successful CPA firm that has offices in Los Angeles. His report shows 90 contributions from Southern Californians totaling more than $32,000, many of those contributing the legal limit, $1,000 each.
Jeff Hartley, Neilson's campaign manager, said Neilson has held one fund-raising event in Los Angeles, but most of his out-of-state fund-raising comes over the telephone, calling friends and business associates there. No more Southern California fund-raisers are planned.
"We've held one fund-raiser in Salt Lake, a very successful one two weeks ago that had 160 local people attend who give more than $24,000," Hartley said. Neilson, whose U.S. House filings show he also is a millionaire, has loaned his campaign $114,000. Neilson also guessed he'd spend $250,000 in the primary, but he won't reach that. He's only spent $94,000 since the convention.
Tom Draschil, who faces Cannon in the 3rd District GOP primary, has raised $148,837 and spent $142,394. Draschil, whose business is buying and restoring old homes, has loaned his campaign $115,000. Including that loan, the campaign is in debt by $137,900.
Compared to the Republicans, the Democrats are poor boys.
Anderson, a local attorney, is getting much of his money from lawyer supporters. The latest report shows that 29 local attorneys have given Anderson $10,475. Former Democratic Gov. Calvin Rampton kicked in $200. Anderson has raised $81,744 and spent $94,295. He's loaned his campaign $3,524. A previous $3,000 loan from the candidate has already been repaid. Anderson faces Atkinson in the 2nd District Democratic primary.
Atkinson's report was apparently mislaid in the election office Friday morning. In an interview, Atkinson said his report shows he's raised $34,305 and spent $33,363. But the reports have an accounting deadline of last week. Since then, says Atkinson, he's raised more money. "As of today, we have raised $52,000 in cash. The reports also don't show (contribution) commitments, and I feel good about those. Money is coming in. I spent Monday raising money and raised $16,000. It takes my time to raise money and I'm spending some time now," Atkinson said.