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McCaskill still raising funds in re-election bid; opponent has less than $500

State Capital Bureau

JEFFERSON CITY - State Auditor Claire McCaskill has about $470,000 available for her re-election campaign and is still raising money -- money that could roll over to future campaigns if it goes unused.

The Democratic incumbent has 800 times as much money as her Republican challenger, Al Hanson, who is still exempt from disclosure because he has raised less than $500. Both candidates filed campaign reports Tuesday.

Matthew Teter, McCaskill's campaign manager, said several events are planned leading up to the election, but he doesn't know whether all the money will be used.

"It would stay in the campaign account," Teter said of unused funds. "It would be available for her next re-election campaign. It could be used for any office that Claire McCaskill runs for."

Hanson has said McCaskill is using the auditor's office as a "political stepping-stone," and that he is the better candidate because he has no further political aspirations.

McCaskill has said she does plan to run for governor, and she said she is looking toward the 2008 election.

"I've never understood this idea that people, once elected, have to be coy," McCaskill said.

Teter said McCaskill takes every election seriously and is running her campaign the way she would run it against any opponent.

"When you have a candidate who won the Republican primary 2 to 1, you don't take anything for granted," Teter said.

Hanson won the primary with 65 percent of the vote, but his campaign efforts have been small.

"We're doing a lot of e-mailing and buying postage stamps," Hanson said. "We're going to stay under the limit."

McCaskill, who has already spent more than $300,000 on the race, said she feels the contest lacks debate.

"It's like you're all dressed up for the big dance and your date doesn't show up," McCaskill said.

Hanson recently pulled out of a debate with McCaskill being organized by KCUR radio in Kansas City.

"It was her moderator, her format and her town," said Hanson, whose advisory committee did not want him to agree to the terms. "That's like going into the lions' den."