Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, has more cash on hand than any of his Democratic challengers in the 49th congressional district race.
But the three Democrats running to unseat him are in a fierce battle to raise their campaign war chests.
Issa has raised more than $430,000 since June. His three democratic challengers together have raised more than twice that.
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Retired Marine Corps Col. Doug Applegate, who narrowly lost to Issa last November, raised the least: just under $150,000. He has spent about the same amount, so the cash on hand in his campaign war chest has remained steady at $262,000.
Mike Levin, an environmental attorney who lives in San Juan Capistrano, has raised $300,000 — twice as much as Applegate.
Levin raised more in individual contributions than his two democratic rivals, and he has the most cash on hand — $530,000. But he also has the most debt — just over $90,000.
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Paul Kerr, a Rancho Santa Fe real estate investor, jumped into the race most recently in July. He‘s declared $504,000 in total receipts, but more than half of that — $275,000 — he contributed to his own campaign.
The 49th District congressional seat is one of the top targets for Democrats next year.