WASHINGTON _ Kansas Republican Steve Watkins and his father have given a combined $1.24 million to boost the younger Watkins' bid for an open seat in the U.S House of Representatives _ an eye-popping sum for a congressional race in Kansas.
The vast majority of those funds were spent to defeat the younger Watkins' fellow Republicans in a bitterly fought seven-way primary race in August, rather than in the general election contest against his Democratic rival, Paul Davis.
Watkins Sr., a Topeka physician, poured more than $765,000 into a super political action committee to benefit his son. Super PACs can raise unlimited funds but can't coordinate directly with candidates.
