Rep. Shelley Moore Capito had her best fundraising quarter ever, while Democrat Anne Barth showed she could raise funds quickly in the race for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.

All federal political candidates' first quarter financial reports were due to be filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

Capito, a four-term Republican incumbent who has no primary election competition, seems to be preparing for a general election battle. She collected more than $368,190 in contributions during the past reporting period, while spending $221,226.

She already had $301,604 for a total of $643,866 on-hand on March 31, the end of the reporting period.

Capito campaign spokesman Kent Gates said it is the most the congresswoman has ever collected.

Barth, a longtime aide to Sen. Robert C. Byrd, faces a three-way primary for the right to face Capito in November. Despite her last-minute entry into the race, she managed to collect $333,686 in contributions.

With only about two and a half months of fundraising, "I'd say that's a dead heat," said Barth spokesman Mark Ferrell.

So far, Barth's campaign has spent $28,299 and had more than $305,000 left on March 31.

"I'm very pleased," Barth said Tuesday after staff scrambled to file her financial paperwork by the deadline. "We had two months out of the three-month quarter and I couldn't be happier about it."

One of her Democratic opponents, longtime South Charleston mayor Richie Robb, reported having $10,835 on-hand March 31. Robb lent his campaign $8,360 and had contributions of $2,475.

The FEC had no financial activity reported by South Charleston lawyer Thornton Cooper, a retired state employee and the third candidate in the race.

Barth said she has continued campaigning across the state and has "high expectations."

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito had her best fundraising quarter ever, while Democrat Anne Barth showed she could raise funds quickly in the race for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District.

All federal political candidates' first quarter financial reports were due to be filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

Capito, a four-term Republican incumbent who has no primary election competition, seems to be preparing for a general election battle. She collected more than $368,190 in contributions during the past reporting period, while spending $221,226.

She already had $301,604 for a total of $643,866 on-hand on March 31, the end of the reporting period.

Capito campaign spokesman Kent Gates said it is the most the congresswoman has ever collected.

Barth, a longtime aide to Sen. Robert C. Byrd, faces a three-way primary for the right to face Capito in November. Despite her last-minute entry into the race, she managed to collect $333,686 in contributions.

With only about two and a half months of fundraising, "I'd say that's a dead heat," said Barth spokesman Mark Ferrell.

So far, Barth's campaign has spent $28,299 and had more than $305,000 left on March 31.

"I'm very pleased," Barth said Tuesday after staff scrambled to file her financial paperwork by the deadline. "We had two months out of the three-month quarter and I couldn't be happier about it."

One of her Democratic opponents, longtime South Charleston mayor Richie Robb, reported having $10,835 on-hand March 31. Robb lent his campaign $8,360 and had contributions of $2,475.

The FEC had no financial activity reported by South Charleston lawyer Thornton Cooper, a retired state employee and the third candidate in the race.

Barth said she has continued campaigning across the state and has "high expectations."

"I'm gratified with the response of people who are ready for change," she said.

State Sen. John Unger, who had said he would challenge Capito but did not run, had raised more than $442,000 from September until he dropped out in mid-January. His campaign reported more than $135,000 still on hand.

"We're going to return it pro

rata, what's left over," Unger said. He said he had waited to do so until after completing legislative sessions and to speak with legal advisers.

"I wanted to make sure it's done right," he said.

Capito also raised more than both of the state's incumbent Democratic congressmen during the first quarter.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., raised $174,365 during the reporting period and had $174,350 already. He spent $336,674, with $80,000 being operating expenses.

But Rahall already had a war chest nearby and reported having more than $1.2 million ready to spend. Rahall has no primary election opponent. In the general election, he will face Republican Marty Gearhart, who had no filings with the FEC on Tuesday.

Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., reported raising $295,293 during the reporting period and had $242028 already. He reported spending $484,095 and had more than $83,000 on-hand at the end of March. Mollohan has no opponent, Democrat or Republican.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., raised more than $2.5 million during the reporting period and already had more than $1 million. He spent more than $800,000.

None of Rockefeller's opponents - Democrats Sheirl Fletcher of Morgantown and Billy Hendricks of Whitesville and Republican Jay Wolfe of Harrison County - had their financial activity reported on the FEC Web site.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.