Challengers Get Big Bucks (John Kennedy)
by Reid Wilson (excerpt)

REAL CLEAR POLITICS

Incumbency has its advantages, but sometimes being a challenger isn't so bad, either. Two challengers running against entrenched incumbents had pretty good quarters over the past three months and raked in some impressive hauls. One remains a long-shot, but the other, Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy, could be benefiting from the widely-held belief that his bid against incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu is the best chance Republicans have at picking up a seat.

Kennedy raised $1.4 million in the past three months, actually out-pacing Landrieu, who hauled in about $1 million in the same period. Kennedy will end the period with nearly $2 million in the bank, the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Bill Walsh reports. Landrieu still has a wide cash advantage, with about $4.5 million on hand, but Kennedy's pace suggests he's on his way to catching up.

While Landrieu raised almost three times what she raised in the same period in 2002, the last time she faced a re-election bid, Kennedy shows no signs of slowing down. He will join President Bush at a Baton Rouge fundraiser on April 22, an event that will further help close the gap with Landrieu. In 2002, Landrieu outspent Republican Suzanne Terrell by a wide $9.4 million to $3.4 million margin and captured a 52%-48% win.

In a year when national Republicans have found it next to impossible to recruit top-tier candidates against any of a number of Democrats running for re-election, Kennedy is one of the lone stand-outs. His prominence as the one challenger to really put a Democrat on defense could serve him well as he pitches donors around the country.