NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Republican Rep. Cory Gardner has more campaign cash on-hand than Democratic Sen. Mark Udall as their tight contest heads into its final weeks, the campaigns said Thursday.
Gardner has $3.3 million available as of Sept. 30, while Udall’s campaign Thursday said it had $1.9 million cash on hand as of that date. Gardner outraised Udall, $4.3 million to $4 million during the third quarter of the year.
Udall’s campaign stressed that it has already spent money reserving air time for its final ad onslaught, and that it upped that total by $1 million. Gardner’s campaign is spending an extra $750,000 on advertising.
Udall has outspent his challenger on the airwaves, but Gardner’s late cash advantage could give him an edge in the final weeks before the Nov. 4 midterm elections. Polls have suggested the race has been tight since Gardner’s entrance in late February.
Both sides are also talking up their ground game. Udall’s campaign said it has more than double the field staff and volunteers of the prior successful Democratic Senate campaign in 2010, when Michael Bennet’s ground operation stunned Republicans and helped him eke out a narrow victory over his challenger. Bennet now chairs the Democratic Party venture dedicated to helping its Senate candidates, which is investing heavily in ground operations this year.
Gardner’s campaign has also touted its field efforts. Republicans need to net six seats to win control of the Senate.
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