Published: July 17, 2008 01:18 am      

Capito keeps fundraising edge

CHARLESTON — Democrat Anne Barth has attracted more than $635,000 in the six months since jumping into the 2nd Congressional District race, but she still has some catching up to do as she challenges incumbent Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.

Capito’s campaign is trumpeting a money advantage of more than three-to-one over Barth, a former longtime aide to U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

Capito had $1.2 million on hand to Barth’s $353,450 as of June 30. Seeking a fifth term, Capito raised nearly $328,000 during the April 24-June 30 filing period. Barth received more than $250,000 during that time.

Capito’s previous Democratic challenger, Mike Callaghan, had raised about a fourth of Barth’s to-date total at the same point in 2006. Barth entered this year’s fray just hours before the Jan. 26 candidacy filing deadline. Her campaign has since spent $282,500, mostly before her May primary win over fellow Democrats Richie Robb and Thornton Cooper.

About 28 percent of Barth’s contributions have come in since her primary victory. Unopposed in her party’s primary, Capito had spent $533,580 as of June 30.

Rep. Nick Rahall has the biggest cash balance of any West Virginia House candidate. The 3rd District Democrat reported having nearly $1.37 million. He raised $147,000 of that during the reporting period.

The FEC did not post a report for his Republican opponent, Mercer County businessman Marty Gearheart.

Rep. Alan Mollohan, a Democrat representing the 1st District, is unopposed in November. He added nearly $29,000 to his total during the filing period, but had less than $14,000 on hand after spending nearly $92,400. About half that amount was legal fees to Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel of Washington, D.C. A federal probe has scrutinized Mollohan’s financial dealings and earmark appropriations.