Art Casarez isn't raising or spending as much money as Republican Les Bruce in the battle for Taylor County sheriff.

But the Democrat remains hopeful and expects to fare better than when he lost by roughly a two-to-one margin to Sheriff Jack Dieken four years ago.

"My feeling is I have a much broader scope of supporters than I did last time," Casarez said Tuesday, a day after campaign finance reports were due for the last reporting period.

During the past three months, Bruce has collected nearly $10,000 and spent about $8,000, while maintaining about $6,200 -- including money left over from previous reporting periods -- in his campaign kitty.

"The support has been overwhelming," said Bruce, who defeated Dieken in the March Republican primary and who has raised nearly $36,000 and spent nearly $27,000 on the campaign since the first of the year.

Casarez, meanwhile, has accumulated nearly $4,000, spent about $5,000 and saved about $4,100 for the final weeks of the campaign.

And Bruce and Casarez hope to raise even more.

"I'm going to raise some more all the way until the end," Casarez said.

Each candidate also promises to run a clean campaign -- in speaking engagements and advertising -- until the much-awaited Nov. 4 election.

"I'm striving to keep it that way," Bruce said.

Bruce said his campaign just put up nine billboards urging Taylor County residents to "Join the Posse" and touting the recent endorsements from Abilene's police and firefighter associations. He said he plans on doing more media, including TV and radio, at a time when the "name of the game is name recognition."

Casarez said he, too, plans on continuing to run billboards -- five at his last count -- and is looking at the possibility of TV.

"We need to decide what direction I need to go," Casarez said, adding he is not worried that Bruce has raised and spent more money than he has.