The candidates spend

Anyone who has turned on the television, listened to the radio or opened the mailbox knows the candidates want something.

Whether it’s Patty Murray standing in front of a box of apples or George Nethercutt jogging up stairs or the gubernatorial hopefuls parading snapshots from their family albums, candidates are kicking their advertising into high gear as the Sept. 14 primary nears.

Advertising costs money. So do polls and consultants. Ditto for the campaign buses, the phones to call supporters and remind them to vote, and the offices where the phones are plugged in.

In campaigns, that money comes from donors – some would argue they’re really investors – who look for candidates whose views of issues or philosophy matches theirs. State and federal law limits the amounts a donor can give to congressional, statewide and legislative candidates, but local candidates in Eastern Washington have no such restrictions.

Federal law also forbids businesses or unions from giving money directly to a congressional or presidential candidate. Instead, they must set up political action committees that make it easier to trace the source of the money. State candidates, however, are allowed to take money from businesses or PACs.

As Washington rolls into the final week before the primary, here are snapshots of the campaign funds for some key races. More information can be found on the Internet, www.pdc.wa.gov for the state Public Disclosure Commission and www.fec.gov for the Federal Elections Commission.