Democratic challenger Kosmas overtakes Feeney in campaign fundraising

by: Mark K. Matthews

In a surprising turn, Democratic challenger Suzanne Kosmas has pulled ahead of U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, in the race for campaign dollars, election records show.

In the first three months of 2008, Kosmas, a former state lawmaker from New Smyrna Beach, collected more than $300,000 -- surpassing Feeney, a third-term incumbent, by more than $100,000, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Her contributors were a mix of unions, local supporters and national Democrats, including Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who gave $4,000. She reported she had about $581,000 in cash-on-hand, about $32,000 more than Feeney's $549,000.

"I am very excited and honored by the groundswell of support," said Kosmas, who represented Volusia County for eight years in the Florida House, through 2004.

The House District 24 seat, drawn for Feeney while he was House speaker, stretches from Volusia into east Orange County and parts of Brevard and Seminole counties.

A Feeney spokeswoman downplayed the fundraising difference and said he is "not focused on the campaign right now." In fact, Feeney collected about $60,000 more in the first three months of 2008 than he did in 2006.

"Every two years, special-interest groups try to come in and intimidate Tom Feeney, only to be disappointed," spokeswoman Pepper Pennington said.

Still, Feeney has about $90,000 less now than he did in 2006. And he faces a much higher-profile opponent than his 2006 challenger, Clint Curtis, who is running again. At least one Washington-based newsletter ranked Feeney as Central Florida's most endangered incumbent, though he's still favored to win re-election.

Kosmas has the strong backing of her national party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has included her in a program that raised nearly $22.6 million for 56 candidates in 2006, according to the DCCC.

Both candidates drew significant support from political action committees. Kosmas took in $71,500 from PACs and Feeney received $86,500 in PAC money.

Meanwhile, the race to replace U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, already appears out of hand for Democrats. The seven-term congressman announced his retirement in January, and veteran state Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, quickly announced his candidacy.

In his first quarter, Posey raised almost $267,000, including $5,000 from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, $5,000 from the American Bankers Association and $2,000 from Weldon's campaign.

Democrats have had difficulty finding an experienced candidate to run for the open seat. So far, the only announced Democrat is Dr. Steve Blythe, a Melbourne physician who posted $16,850 in contributions, including $5,000 from himself.