For primary, Specter spent $7M in 3 months

Another candidate's spokesman said Specter knows he's in trouble.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seeking to stave off a strong Republican primary challenge, Sen. Arlen Specter has burned through half his campaign bank account since the start of the year -- cutting into funds he may sorely need if he advances to the general election.
Specter, the four-term Republican, spent $7 million and raised $2.4 million between Jan. 1 and April 7, according to Federal Election Commission records filed Thursday -- the final such report before the April 27 primary. He now has $4.6 million left in his bank account, half the $9.2 million he had at the end of 2003.
Much of the money paid for 14 TV ads airing in media markets across the state since the beginning of the year.
What challenger spent
Conservative challenger Rep. Pat Toomey, by comparison, has $1.2 million left for the final 12 days of the campaign. He raised $1.4 million and spent $2.3 million -- including on TV advertisements though April 19, said campaign manager Mark Dion.
"So he outspent us 3-1 and his numbers have only gotten worse for him," Dion said of Specter's campaign cash. He was referring to the narrowing poll numbers between the moderate four-term senator and the conservative congressman.
Responded Specter campaign manager Christopher Nicholas: "We're setting up for a general election -- which the Toomey campaign doesn't have to worry about."
National Democrats have estimated the Senate seat will cost the party at least $7 million to win in November. But Democratic candidate Rep. Joe Hoeffel continues to struggle to raise money, as his cash-on-hand totals remained virtually unchanged from the start of the year.
Hoeffel raised $586,212 and spent $584,524. He has $801,492 in his campaign account, records show.
Hoeffel's "fund-raising would have to double to be anemic, so I don't know what you'd call him now," Nicholas said.
Hoeffel spokesman Tom Hickey said the three-term congressman from suburban Philadelphia has collected nearly 1,000 online donations -- support he called "encouraging."
Hickey added: "If Specter does manage to survive this primary fight, there is not enough money in the world to pay for the amount of wool he'd need to pull over the voters' eyes in order to be re-elected. He's in serious trouble, and he knows it."
House candidates' reports
House candidates across the state also filed FEC reports Thursday, giving a last glimpse of campaign resources as hopefuls head into the final stretch. They include:
*The 9th Congressional District in southern-central Pennsylvania, where incumbent GOP Rep. Bill Shuster faces challenger Michael DelGrosso. Shuster has $122,762 left in his campaign coffer while DelGrosso has $77,686.
*The 13th District in northeast Philadelphia and its suburbs, considered one of the most competitive House seats in the country. Democrats state Sen. Allyson Y. Schwartz and former National Constitution Center president Joe Torsella are nearly matched: Schwartz has $203,880 left in her account to Torsella's $216,882. Overall, Schwartz raised $801,962 and spent $1.4 million, while Torsella raised $355,006 and spent $721,527.
On the Republican side of the 13th District primary, ophthalmologist Melissa Brown raised $156,886, spent $111,904 and has $419,925. That's compared to Rep. Ellen Bard, who raised $94,655, spent $115,512 and has $131,214; and businessman Al Taubenberger has $20,292 left to spend.
*The 15th District in the Lehigh Valley, where Republican state Sen. Charlie Dent has outpaced his two GOP opponents. Dent has $283,387 in the bank, compared to attorney Brian O'Neill's $11,834 and Lehigh County commissioner Joe Pascuzzo's $17,519. Between the Democratic contenders, neither Joe Driscoll nor Rick Orloski had immediately filed their reports.
*The 17th District in Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania, where six Republican candidates are vying to replace Democratic Rep. Tim Holden. Five hopefuls had filed by Thursday evening: attorney Scott Paterno, the son of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, led the pack with on-hand cash with $120,l666. He was followed by former state Adjutant General Bill Lynch's $51,993; teacher Ron Hostetler's $32,526; accountant Frank Ryan's $31,106; teacher Ron Hostetler's $32,526 and real estate agent Sue Helm's $29,677. A report for attorney Mark Stewart was not immediately available.