By Todd Hatton
Clarksville, TN – Campaign finance reports show frantic fundraising activity following the Tennessee Democratic Party's decision to declare incumbent state Senator Rosalind Kurita's primary win invalid.
Kurita, who has represented state Senate District 22 since 1997, was replaced on the ballot by Clarksville attorney Tim Barnes last month.
Kurita lost support among many fellow Democrats after she cast a key vote in favor of Republican Senator Ron Ramsey's election as Senate speaker in 2007. Following the start of her write-in campaign, she raised about $31,600. Barnes, meanwhile, raised about $36,500.
The fundraising numbers reflect the level of outside interest in the race: Kurita raised only $4,000 from people inside the district, while Barnes collected only about $5,000 from potential constituents.