JEFFERSON CITY - If you are already annoyed by the political ads on TV, brace yourself. You haven't seen anything yet.
With only three weeks until the Nov. 7 election, Missouri's two major party candidates for governor each reported still having more than $2 million to spend, according to campaign finance reports released Monday.
That kind of money -- more than $180,000 a day -- can buy a lot of commercials. And in a race polls show as too close to call, it will.
Republican Jim Talent holds an edge over Bob Holden with $2.4 million Holden, the Democratic state treasurer, reported $2.2 million in the bank.
The difference may seem small. But at $227,000, that gives Talent more than $10,000 more each day to spend.
Kim Baldwin, a spokeswoman for Holden, said the campaign would spend the money on TV time, get out the vote efforts and direct mail.
"It takes a lot of money to get people to polls," she said.
During September, Talent overcame an earlier on-hand disadvantage by raising more and spending less than Holden. Talent, a congressman from St. Louis County, reported raising just over $693,000 and spending $1.26 million compared to just over $550,000 and $1.63 million for Holden, respectively.
Before September, Holden had the on hand advantage, $3.23 million to $2.95 million.
Holden's total is missing from his report, but a spokesman said he had raised $7.29 million, the most in state history for a gubernatorial candidate. No slouch, Talent's report said he has reeled in $6.86 million.
See the campaign finance disclosure page of Missouri Digital News at http://www.mdn.org/2000/data/money.htm.
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