Doherty leads cash race ahead of primary

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Republican Brendan Doherty has a significant cash advantage in the race to unseat U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who is running for a second term in Congress.

Doherty's campaign reported in a filing made with the federal Election Commission on Thursday that it has about $609,000 cash as of Aug. 22, compared with $483,000 for Cicilline. Cicilline's Democratic challenger in the Sept. 11 primary, businessman Anthony Gemma, had about $25,000 on that date but has since written himself a $150,000 check.

The winner of the primary will face Doherty, former head of the state police, on Nov. 6.

Cicilline is raising and spending money faster than Doherty. He raised $142,000 in the period that lasted from July 1 to Aug. 22 compared with about $112,000 for Doherty.

But Cicilline ran TV ads throughout August and spent nearly $500,000 in the period compared with Doherty, who spent $172,000.

Gemma raised $64,000 and spent just over $200,000 in the period.

Doherty and Gemma have not run any TV ads, although the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ran ads supporting Doherty in May.