 The race was among the handful selected by the National Republican Committee to receive national Party support.Connelly attempted to make an issue out of an illegal loan Ferguson's campaign received from his parents in 2000, but the issue failed to gain "traction" with voters; after review by the Federal Election Commission and adjudication, Ferguson paid a large civil fine using money from his campaign fund.Democratic State Committee Chairman Thomas Giblin asserted it was the illegal loan that enabled Ferguson to win.