McEwen gives $50,000 to his favorite candidate

Which, of course, would be himself.

Bob McEwen, the Republican challenger in the 2nd District congressional race, loaned his own campaign $50,000 back in March, according to the pre-primary campaign finance report his campaign filed with the Federal Election Commission.

That loan accounted for nearly one-fourth of the total contributions to his campaign during the first quarter of 2006, and helped him go from $576.09 in the bank at the beginning of the year to total receipts of $221,436 through April 15. With nearly $170,000 in expenditures, McEwen was left with $52,920 in the bank.

His opponent, Jean Schmidt, raked in $215,664 in the same period, to add to the $162,140 she already had in the bank on Jan. 1. As of April 15, she has more than twice the cash on hand as McEwen - $116,985.06.

Incumbency has it advantages.