Eye on 2010

Specter's campaign report also showed that he received funds from committees linked to Richard C. Shelby of Alabama; Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia; Bob Corker of Tennessee; Michael D. Crapo of Idaho; and George V. Voinovich of Ohio, who's not seeking re-election next year.

Orrin Hatch of Utah gave to Specter from both his campaign committee, Hatch Election Committee, and his leadership PAC, OrrinPAC.

Leadership PACs can give $5,000 to Specter's campaign per election. Candidates committees are limited to giving $2,400.

While the senatorial giving is a small share of Specter's total first-quarter receipts of $1.3 million, it's evidence that many of Specter's colleagues, who are in danger of losing their filibuster power in the 2010 elections, see Specter as their best shot of retaining a Republican-held seat in a state that has been trending Democratic.

Several former members of Congress contributed personally to Specter's campaign. They included former Sen. Steve Symms of Idaho, who was elected to the Senate with Specter in 1980 and served two terms, and former Reps. Robert L. Livingston of Louisiana, George Nethercutt of Washington, Jack Fields Jr. of Texas and L.F. Payne of Virginia, who is a Democrat.

Specter had $6.7 million cash-on-hand as April began. Toomey, who narrowly lost to Specter in 2004, announced his candidacy just this week and so he did not file a first-quarter campaign finance report.