DelBene adds $1.35 million to race against Reichert

Democrat Suzan DelBene poured an additional $1.35 million of her personal wealth into her campaign against U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert in the first two weeks of October, according to a finance report filed Thursday.

DelBene, a former Microsoft corporate vice president, now has donated a total of $2.28 million in her campaign against Reichert, R-Auburn, with $350,000 of that total considered a loan, according to a Federal Election Commission report.

DelBene, from Medina, is challenging three-term incumbent Reichert to represent the 8th Congressional District, which covers east King and Pierce counties.

With her latest donation, DelBene is close to the $2.5 million Republican Mike McGavick loaned his campaign for his failed 2006 Senate bid against Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell.

But DelBene is still nowhere near the total spent in 2000 by Sen. Maria Cantwell, who gave her campaign more than $10 million in her first bid for Senate. A Real Networks executive, she pledged at the time not to accept any money from political-action committees.

When asked how much more DelBene was willing to donate to her campaign, spokesman Scott Whiteaker said, "It's a decision between her and her family."

Reichert started off October with significantly more cash available for television ads and other campaign expenses. As of Sept. 30, he reported having $1.3 million available, while DelBene had just $268,525.

But since then, Reichert has put up several television ads, which quickly drain campaign coffers. After raising $117,954 more from Oct. 1-13, his finance report showed he had $606,777 remaining for the final two-week push to Election Day.

DelBene has essentially spent all the money from her most recent donation to her campaign. She reported spending $1.38 million for the first two weeks of October and had $195,051 cash available for the rest of the month.

So far this campaign, DelBene has raised $3.4 million, including her own contributions, and Reichert has reported $2.4 million.

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com