Congressional cash on hand rundown

Today was the deadline for filing federal campaign returns, and the landscape of New Jersey politics hasn’t altered drastically.

In the Senate race, only Frank Lautenberg has filed with the Federal Election Commission. While the numbers have not yet appeared on the site, campaign manager Brendan Gill said that the 84-year-old Democrat has raised $931,700 during the last quarter of 2007, bringing his cash on hand total to about $4.32 million.

The next highest fundraising total in the Senate race belongs to Republican businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook, who put $1.6 million into her fledgling campaign and has raised a total of about $1.7 million. She has about $1.5 million cash on hand. State Senator Joe Pennacchio only entered the race in January, so he will not need to file until March, and would not divulge how much he’s raised so far.

“We raised money, we’ve had an awful lot of commitments, so we’re right on target for where I think we should be,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ron Paul presidential supporter Murray Sabrin kicked off his fundraising through an internet campaign beginning last week, and has raised approximately $41,000, according to an aide.

In the house, the biggest war chest still belongs to Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone, who raised $348,742 last quarter to bring his cash on hand total to $3.25 million. Next in line is first district Democrat Rob Andrews, who raised a quarter million last quarter and has nearly $2.4 million cash on hand. Not far behind him is eighth district Rep. Steve Rothman, who raised $263,000 and has just over $2 million on hand.

Representative Frank LoBiondo tops out the Republicans with almost $1.4 million on hand, having raised $149,522 during the quarter. He sits in a district targeted by federal Democrats, although they don’t yet have a candidate. Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell raised $205,350 last quarter, putting him in fifth place with $1.137 million.

The rest of the congressional delegation hasn’t hit the million dollar mark in cash on hand.

Retiring 7th district Rep. Mike Ferguson spent most of his money last quarter -- $832,389, according to the FEC Web site. Detailed information on where that money went is not yet available, however. As of the end of last quarter, Ferguson still had $365,378 to give away.

The real race in Ferguson’s district is with the eight Republicans who want to replace him – but only two have filed with the FEC. Leading the pack is gubernatorial daughter Kate Whitman, who raised $200,535 and has almost all of it -- $200,076 – in the bank. Scotch Plains Mayor Marty Marks has $94,035 on hand, $75,000 of which is his own. None of the other potential candidates –Leonard Lance, Victor Sordillo, Kelly Hatfield, Chris Venis, Tom Rougheen and Michael Hsing – have filed.

Linda Stender, the likely Democratic nominee for the seat, raised about $615,000 and has $503,305 in the bank.

The other retiring congressman, Jim Saxton, still has $1.08 million in the bank. Leading the Republicans waiting to succeed him is Medford Mayor Chris Myers, who hasn’t filed yet but campaign aides says has more than $150,000 . Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly told PolitickerNJ.com earlier this month that he had raised $50,000 and had $150,000 in commitments, though his filings do not appear on the FEC Web site. Nor do those of two other Republican candidates: former Tabernacle Township Committeeman Justin Murphy or Republican activist Suzanne Penna.

Likely Democratic seventh district nominee John Adler’s filings are not available, but his campaign said earlier this month that he has raised $610,000 and has $580,000 in the bank.

Democratic Rep. Donald Payne, raised $366,347 throughout the whole year of 2007 and has $983,000 on hand. Democratic Rep. Rush Holt raised more than Payne during the year of 2007 -- $484,000 – but only has $735,000 on hand.

Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen raised $59,650 last quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to $549,834. So far, he hasn’t been forced to raise more by his likely Democratic opponent, Tom Wkya, come November.

Although two Democrats are competing to take on Republican Rep. Scott Garrett this year, he doesn’t seem to have panicked. His cash-on-hand total is $352,001. His two potential Democratic opponents, Dennis Shulman and Camille Abate, have $174,802 and $81,122 on hand, respectively.

Representative Chris Smith raised $268,653 last year and has $405,006 on hand. The only Democrat still in the race to oppose him, Bordentown based writer Josh Zeitz, raised a total of $97,301 last year and has $82,766 on hand.

At the bottom of the list is Albio Sires, who raised $175,248 last quarter and has $209,336 on hand.