The Nation - News from Aug. 17, 1986

Senate and House candidates have spent $192 million on the 1986 elections with just over half the primaries completed, a jump of 18% over 1984, the Federal Election Commission reported. According to FEC data, the candidates raised $262 million in the first 18 months of the campaign, a 23% increase. Special-interest political action committee contributions jumped 29% and accounted for about 25% of all funds raised. In the battle over the Republican-controlled Senate--viewed as the key issue in the 1986 elections--Republican candidates raised $76 million, while Democrats raised $48 million.