Buchanan Discloses Campaign Funds

Wednesday, November 1st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Reform Party presidential nominee Patrick Buchanan spent $5.5 million on advertising during the first 18 days of October, nearly draining his campaign bank account, records show.

Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show that Buchanan had $2.3 million in the bank as of Oct. 18, after receiving $12.6 million in federal funds for the fall campaign. Buchanan also raised $443,343 from contributors.

Since winning the Reform Party nomination and the federal funding that accompanied it, Buchanan has spent $10.7 million, more than half on advertising.

A TV ad airing this month in 24 states supports prayer in school and defends the Boy Scouts for excluding gay scout leaders. Buchanan earlier advertised in Michigan and South Carolina, where one of his spots focused on his opposition to abortion.

Buchanan's latest filing arrived at the FEC five days after the Oct. 26 deadline. The campaign had been warned that the FEC would publicize its failure to file if the forms were not submitted by midweek.

The FEC previously cited Buchanan's primary campaign for failing to submit its Aug. 20 report on time.

The report shows that Buchanan, besides his advertising costs, spent $73,000 on direct mail and $14,977 on legal fees between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18.

Overall, he has spent more than $500,000 on legal fees. Buchanan successfully defeated efforts by a Reform Party faction led by Natural Law Party presidential nominee John Hagelin to deny him the Reform nomination and the federal funds.