Both of the major candidates for the United States Senate had money left in their campaign accounts when the election was held last month, a total of about $50,000. But what they spent was the real story. Democrat incumbent Jean Carnahan and her successful Republican challenger Jim Talent spent more than $20-Million on the campaign, a record amount spent in a statewide campaign in Missouri. Talent won the race even though he spent less, about $8-Million, 650-Thousand. Carnahan spent about $12-Million, 300-Thousand. The campaign finance reports filed by the candidates do not count what independent, special interest groups spent, including what the two political parties spent on the campaign. The Center for Responsive Politics says only one Senate campaign cost more this year: the Dole-Bowles race in North Carolina.
