Political committee has $444,150 to help Steelman

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An independent political committee reports $444,150 in its bank account at the start of July to help Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Steelman.

The Now or Never Political Action Committee filed a quarterly campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission. The committee says spending several hundred thousand dollars will help Steelman in the Republican Senate primary.

The Aug. 7 primary features Steelman, St. Louis businessman John Brunner and U.S. Rep. Todd Akin. They are competing to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Federal campaign finance figures covering April through the end of June show that Brunner contributed more than $2.5 million to his campaign and raised about $193,000 from others. Akin's campaign brought in nearly $284,000 and Steelman collected nearly $242,000.