Cost of PA's US Senate election totals about $40M

(Harrisburg) -- The race for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania cost about $40 million, ending in the re-election of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey for a second six-year term. 

The campaigns released information Thursday in conjunction with a federal reporting deadline.

Casey beat his better-financed but lesser-known Republican challenger, Tom Smith, 54 percent to 45 percent.

Almost $30 million of the total amount, including money from outside groups, was spent after July 1.

Smith spent almost $21 million, mostly his own money.

Casey spent about $12.5 million in the two-year campaign cycle.

Including contributions from outside groups, Smith outspent Casey by nearly 2-to-1.

The cost was substantially less than the 2010 election in which Pat Toomey beat Joe Sestak to take Arlen Specter's Senate seat.

The cost of that election exceeded $50 million.