Defiant underdog in US Senate campaign ends year with just $60k on hand in key Ohio race

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner (BREW'-nehr) has refused for days to reveal her fundraising totals to the public. When the numbers became available Thursday, it was clear why.

Brunner, Ohio's Democratic secretary of state, raised just under $93,000 for the final quarter of 2009, according to her filing with the Federal Election Commission. Brunner has just about $60,000 in the bank, 100 times less than fundraising leader Rob Portman.

Portman, a former Republican congressman and Bush budget director, leads all candidates for the spot being vacated by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich with $6 million in the bank.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has $1.8 million on hand. GOP challenger Tom Ganley, a largely self-funded Cleveland car dealer, has amassed $1.3 million.

http://www.fox8.com/news/sns-ap-us--senaterace-ohio,0,5655734.story