Alabama candidates for governor dig deep into own wallets for 2010 race

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama candidates for governor have lent their campaigns more than $5 million, an unprecedented amount fueled by restrictions on campaign donations and the determination of candidates to stand out in a crowded field.

Republican Tim James, a Greenville businessman, leads the lenders with $2 million of his own money pumped into his campaign.

Republican State Treasurer Kay Ivey is second at nearly $1.8 million, followed by Robert Bentley, a physician and Republican state representative, at $787,000. Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks comes in fourth with a $500,000 personal loan.

Republican Bill Johnson, a former state agency director, provided $40,000. Republican Bradley Byrne kicked in $24,000 to his campaign, and another Republican, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, lent his campaign $4,000, according to campaign finance reports the candidates filed recently with the secretary of state.

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/alabama_candidates_for_governo.html