Tester outraised Morrison last six weeks (MT-Sen, Burns-Abramoff)

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/05/26/montana/a05052606_01.txt

HELENA — Over the past six weeks, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester raised more money than primary rival John Morrison, but Republican incumbent Conrad Burns raised more cash than both of them combined.

Campaign reports filed Thursday showed Tester, a Big Sandy farmer and Montana Senate president, raked in $147,787 for the period from April 1 through May 17. Morrison, who is state auditor from Helena, raised $125,237 during the same period.

Burns, who is running for a fourth term, collected $291,898 during the six weeks. His chief primary rival, state Senate Minority Leader Bob Keenan of Bigfork, who entered the race in late March, has raised $70,540, including a $15,000 loan from himself.

For the entire campaign, Burns already has eclipsed the record $6.189 million that Democratic Sen. Max Baucus raised for his entire 2002 campaign. With the November election more than five months away, Burns already has raised $6.209 million.

So far in the campaign, Morrison has garnered $1.5 million and Tester has taken in $849,679. Keenan’s total for the period was the same for his entire campaign.

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