Senators checks show influence of DSCC on Cunningham's campaign

Cal Cunningham's endorsement by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee paid off in an outpouring of contributions from Democratic senators.

At least eight senators, through their leadership PACs, gave Cunningham $36,000 in contributions during the first quarter, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission, Rob Christensen reports.

The Lexington attorney received money from the leadership PACs of Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska ($2,000), Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware ($5,000), Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan ($2,000), Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois ($5,000), Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico ($2,000), Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey ($5,000), Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota ($5,000) and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia ($5,000).

The senatorial committee recruited Cunningham into the race viewing him as the strongest potential opponent of Republican Sen. Richard Burr.  The contributions of the Senate leadership's PACs is the clearest indication of the national Democratic Party tipping the scales toward Cunningham.

The national's party's role is less clear in other major endorsements that Cunningham has received from the N.C. Association of Educators, the Teamsters, the Sierra Club and other groups.

Both of Cunningham's major rivals in the May 4th Democratic primary, Ken Lewis and Elaine Marshall, have portrayed Cunningham as a candidate tied to Washington interests.