Condit’s Campaign Funds Down Sharply

Facing stiff competition for reelection, Rep. Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) dipped into his campaign funds to pay lawyers and a publicist he hired last year to deal with fallout from his relationship with a missing California woman.

Condit’s fund-raising also dropped sharply following the disappearance of 24-year-old Chandra Levy and Condit’s acknowledgment of a close relationship with her, according to his latest campaign finance disclosure.

He raised less than $37,000 in the second half of 2001--a fifth of what he took in during the previous six months. Condit’s once-healthy campaign account balance, which was $316,000 in July, fell to less than $73,000 at year’s end.