There apparently is no evidence to suggest that fundraising errors in U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's 2004 re-election campaign were willful or intentional. But to some voters, it no doubt was eye-opening that the longest-serving U.S. senator in Keystone State history would have encountered such a problem.

A Federal Election Commission audit has revealed that the senator's campaign committee received more than $1 million in excessive contributions for the 2004 race. According to the FEC, the senator's campaign committee had taken corrective action for much of the money, but excessive contributions of more than $100,000 remain unresolved. If Specter runs for re-election in 2010, he should ensure that his fundraising staff is fully up to speed on the latest rules.

Where the Specter 2004 campaign erred was in regard to certain contributions of more than $2,000. By law, a person can only donate $2,000 to a candidate per election.

When a campaign committee receives in excess of $2,000 it can redesignate the excess money for a later race, or transfer it as being from the donor's spouse.

However, the donor must be told — and must be given the option to receive a refund. The audit found that in many of the circumstances where individuals donated more than $2,000, there was no evidence that the donors had been notified about changes in designation.

Stephen Harmelin, campaign committee treasurer, expressed the belief that the donors were in fact notified. Why the committee would allow such documentation to be misplaced or destroyed is puzzling.

As Specter looks forward to 2010, he should ensure that his campaign fundraising staff is poised to avoid a repeat of 2004's errors.