During the last three months of 2009 -- as his name shot up House retirement watch lists -- Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) raised over $100,000 for his re-election effort.
Berry's spokeswoman released the fundraising figure on Tuesday as retirement rumors continue to hound the 68-year-old Congressman from northeast Arkansas.
"Congressman Berry is planning to seek reelection in 2010," Berry's press secretary Angela Guyadeen said.
The seven-term Berry is one of several veteran Democrats whose 2010 plans will be closely monitored in the wake of recent retirement announcements by fellow Democratic Reps. Dennis Moore of Kansas, Brian Baird of Washington and Bart Gordon and John Tanner of Tennessee.
While a $100,000 quarterly fundraising figure isn't stunning by Congressional standards that total, combined with the nearly $600,000 in cash on hand Berry reported at the end of September, should be more than enough to take on his GOP challenger, Rick Crawford, a little known farm broadcaster who had just $38,000 in the bank for his campaign at the end of September.
But Republican sources on Capitol hinted that the primary field may still grow before Arkansas' April filing deadline.
Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee said they aren't discounting the prospect of an open seat race in Arkansas' 1st district this cycle.
"Instead of trying to defend an indefensible government healthcare takeover on the campaign trail, it would be no surprise if Berry decided to follow in the recent footsteps of his Democrat colleagues and throw in the towel before voters do it for him," said NRCC spokesman Greg Blair.
CQ Politics currently rates the general election as Likely Democratic.
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