O’Donnell Spent Record $6.1 Million In Delaware Senate Race

WASHINGTON (AP) – Delaware Republican Christine O’Donnell set a state record by spending more than $6.1 million in her losing Senate campaign.

Delaware elections commissioner Elaine Manlove says she is confident no one has spent more in the state’s history. Federal campaign finance data compiled by CQ MoneyLine going back to the 1980s show the next highest tally came in the 2008 cycle, when former Sen. Joe Biden, now the vice president, spent $4.9 million. The third-highest was $4.4 million by former Sen. William Roth in 2000.

O’Donnell, who lost in a landslide to Democrat Chris Coons, was flooded with contributions from across the country after she pulled off her tea party-fueled upset over Rep. Mike Castle in the Sept. 15 GOP primary.

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