BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER -- Republican Gex "Jay" Williams has never raised more campaign money than a political opponent.
But while the Boone County state senator trails Democrat Ken Lucas in fund raising in Northern Kentucky's 4th District race for Congress, Mr. Williams has shown surprising success in compiling campaign contributions.
"Yes, I am surprised. Pleasantly surprised," said Villa Hills attorney, Republican strategist and fund-raiser Lawson Walker.
"Heading into the last stretch of the campaign, he is in good shape. I think that obviously bodes well for him, but I think it's also a bad sign for the Lucas campaign. They haven't been able to raise as much money as a lot of people thought they would, and that's great news for Gex," Mr. Walker said.
Just six weeks ago, one of the leading Republicans in Congress, Rep. John Linder, sent a warning to Mr. Williams that he had to start raising more money.
"Gex came out of a tough primary, and he's got to start raising more money," Mr. Linder, head of the National Republican Campaign Committee, told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Sept. 5.
Helped by party
Buoyed by several high-profile fund-raisers featuring congressional Republicans Newt Gingrich, Steve Largent, Dick Armey and John Ashcroft, and former Senate Republican leader and 1996 presidential candidate Bob Dole, Mr. Williams has seen his campaign bank account grow.
Through September, the deadline for the latest campaign finance reports, Mr. Williams trailed Mr. Lucas by $145,000. Mr. Lucas reported raising $760,000, compared with Mr. Williams' $615,000. Mr. Williams actually outraised Mr. Lucas from July 1 to Sept. 30, about $275,000 to $230,000. Back in July, Mr. Lucas enjoyed a 4-to-1 advantage in funds over Mr. Williams.
"We're going to have the money we need to get our message out," said Craig Hendricks, Mr. Williams' campaign manager. "Gex has always been outraised and outspent in every election he has faced, and he has always won. And we plan on winning this one as well."
Mr. Williams reported about $138,000 cash as of Sept. 30, but he had debts of $84,000. Mr. Lucas had cash on hand of about $90,000 and debts of just $169.
Mr. Lucas also more than doubled Mr. Williams in buying television spots for campaign commercials, $215,000 to $100,000.
Both Mr. Lucas and Mr. Williams are running commercials on Cincinnati television stations. But Mr. Lucas is also advertising in the Ashland and Louisville markets. Mr. Williams' campaign would not say when or whether it will begin running TV spots in those areas, which sit respectively on the far east and west ends of the 4th District.
Mr. Williams only recently began radio commercials, while Mr. Lucas has been on the radio since midsummer. Many of those spots have been critical of Mr. Williams and harped on allegations of ethical problems that have dogged Mr. Williams.
John Lapp, Mr. Lucas' campaign manager, said Mr. Williams has waited too late to begin his media campaign.
"They have been so busy responding to questions of ethics and integrity that they have been unable to address the issues important to Kentucky's working families," Mr. Lapp said.
"(Mr.) Williams is a candidate in search of a message."
In Williams' camp
Mr. Williams has landed checks from some corporate and business leaders in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Among them:
Comair Chief Executive David Mueller, as well as the Erlanger airline's president, David Siebenburgen, and chief financial officer, Randy Rademacher.
Drawbridge Estates owner Gerald Deters.
Newport Steel Chief Executive Officer Cliff Borland.
Homebuilder Henry Fischer.
Richard Farmer and Robert Kohlhepp, respectively the chief executive and president of Cintas, the Cincinnati uniform rental company.
Executives from Carl Lindner's American Financial Group, including Vice President Sandra Heimann, John Zanotti and James Evans.
Mr. Williams is also getting financial support from leaders in Kentucky's anti-abortion movement, including Robert Cetrulo and Fred Summe of Northern Kentucky Right to Life and Dr. Frank Simon of Louisville.
Among the corporate political action committees, or PACs, supporting Mr. Williams are Ford Motor Co., the Kroger Co., Dow Chemical, Union Pacific, Federal Express and National City Bank.
Special-interest and political PACs giving money to Mr. Williams include the National Rifle Association, Family First -- a Cincinnati PAC that opposes abortion, the National Republican Campaign Committee, the Republican Party of Kentucky and PACs operated by Congressmen Hal Rogers of Kentucky and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
Mr. Williams' expenses include $4,000 a month, a total of more than $20,000, to Georgia political consultant Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition.
