Tarrant deposits another $450,000 into campaign account

BURLINGTON, Vt. --Vermont's race for the U.S. Senate continues to get more expensive.

Republican Richard Tarrant has deposited another $450,000 from his personal wealth into his campaign account, said campaign spokesman Tim Lennon.

The latest contribution, made on Friday, raised the total Tarrant has given his campaign from his own money to $3 million. Just a week earlier Tarrant had also put $450,000 into his campaign.

Those amounts were enough to push Tarrant's fundraising past the Vermont record of $2.6 million that Sen. Patrick Leahy raised during his re-election bid in 2004.

Rep. Bernie Sanders also has surpassed the old record. He reported earlier this month that he had raised $2.9 million for his Senate campaign.

Sanders and Tarrant are vying to take the seat now held by Sen. James Jeffords, who is retiring.

Tarrant also faces a challenger in the Sept. 12 primary. Retired Air force Lt. Col. Greg Parke of Rutland also is seeking the Republican nomination.

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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com