Haslam outspends McWherter 5-to-1 in gov's race

Friday, January 21, 2011, Vol. 35, No. 3

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican Bill Haslam spent five times as much as his Democratic rival Mike McWherter in the Tennessee governor's race.

Campaign finance reports filed late Tuesday show Haslam spent $16.7 million in his successful bid to become the state's 49th governor. McWherter spent $3.4 million, with nearly half coming in the form of personal loans.

Haslam's totals include his spending from a spirited GOP primary, while McWherter was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Haslam spent about $724,000 in the fourth quarter, which includes the last 10 days of the campaign. McWherter spent $336,000 in the same period.

Haslam was left with a balance of nearly $637,000, while McWherter's report showed he had less than $2,000 remaining.