Sarasota’s Vern shows up as No. 10 House fundraiser
November 8, 2007 at 10:39 am by Wayne GarciaRepublican Congressman Vern Buchanan, whose 2006 election continues to contested by his Democratic opponent over (say it with me, folks, it is Florida after all) voting machine irregularities, is the tenth biggest fundraiser in the US House, CQ Politics says.
Its listing for the wealthy Sarasota car dealer:
• 10) Vern Buchanan , Republican
Florida’s 13th District (Southwest — Sarasota, most of Bradenton)
Campaign money: $1.4 million raised, $764,000 cash on hand
Buchanan was elected in 2006 to succeed two-term Republican Rep. Katherine Harris, who left open southwestern Florida’s 13th District to pursue a Senate campaign that failed. Buchanan’s 369-vote victory over Democrat Christine Jennings was exceptionally close — and controversial, as Democrats alleged that malfunctions in electronic voting machines led to a large “undervote†in a pro-Jennings county. Republicans said that the result was above board and that the Democrats were sore losers. Buchanan and Jennings are preparing for a rematch in 2008.
