But lingering aftereffects from the veteran Democrat's legal troubles - including a lack of money - still loom as obstacles in his bid to hold off Republican Sen. Tommie Williams in a redrawn South Georgia district.

During the third quarter of this year, while Mr. Streat was dealing with accusations that he took money to help an imprisoned murderer, Mr. Williams was raising more than $47,000.

After spending almost $51,000 during July, August and September, the Republican still had nearly $33,000 cash on hand as of Sept. 30, according to a report he filed with the secretary of state's office.

At the same time, Mr. Streat was raising about $7,300 and spending just more than $14,000. At the end of last month, the incumbent had only about $7,500 in his campaign treasury, according to his report.

Neither Mr. Williams, of Lyons, nor Mr. Streat, of Nicholls, was emphasizing the disparity between the two campaigns' accounts.

While Mr. Williams is comfortable that he has plenty of money to get out his message, he said voter uncertainty remaining about Mr. Streat's case points to a larger difference between the two candidates than their financial resources.

"There's still some negatives out there," said Mr. Williams. "I think (voters) are looking for somebody who's not going to embarrass them, somebody who can keep his nose clean."

But Mr. Streat said the voters who were concerned about the charges against him will disregard the case now that he's been cleared.

"People know me," he said. "I've been in this for a long time."

Indeed, about two-thirds of the redrawn 19th Senate District lies within Mr. Streat's current district.

The other third is now represented by Mr. Williams, who was drawn into Mr. Streat's district by Democratic legislative leaders during last year's redistricting session.

But the new 19th also is less staunchly Democratic than before, said University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock. He has placed it in a category with 16 other Senate districts that tilt Democratic, but could be won over by a strong Republican candidate.

Mr. Williams said he expects to win his part of the district by a 3-1 margin and draw enough votes from Democrats disgruntled with Gov. Roy Barnes to be competitive on Mr. Streat's turf.

Many teachers throughout the state are unhappy with the governor's education reforms, and anger over Mr. Barnes' drive to change the state flag is particularly strong in south Georgia.

"Roy Barnes has made a lot of Republicans out of Democrats here," Mr. Williams said.

But Mr. Streat said the region's voters don't tend to base their choices on a candidate's party label.

"I'm just thankful I live in the part of the state where people vote for the person," he said.

CAMPAIGN SPENDING

Tommie Williams raised and spent more money than Van Streat during the third quarter, according to reports the two state Senate candidates filed this week with the secretary of state's office. Mr. Williams also had a much larger campaign treasury as of Sept. 30:

Candidate/Raised/Spent/Cash on hand

Van Streat/$7,330/$14,156/$7,437*

Tommie Williams/$47,377/$50,959/$32,940*

*Reflects fund-raising and spending before the third quarter

Source: Georgia Secretary of State's office

Reach Dave Williams at (404) 589-8424 or mnews@mindspring.com.