Customer Service Place an Ad Become a Carrier Contact Us About Us Mobile Edition E-Mail Updates Report Cancellation Submit Milestone
| Subscribe Now Customer Service Place an Ad Become a Carrier Contact Us About Us Mobile Edition E-Mail Updates Report Cancellation Submit Milestone
|
 |
 |
|
Weather  Calendar Obituaries Classifieds Jobs Autos Homes Rentals Coupons Ad Center Gift Finder |
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
|
Home News Sports
Free Time Life Money Nation/World Opinion Blogs/Columns Archives Site Map |
| NewsMonday, October 15, 2007 5:54 PM CDT |
 Comments (3) |  E-mail this page |  Print this page |  Enlarge type |  Reduce type |  Search archives |  RSS feeds |  Add to My Yahoo! |
Congressional candidates raising money early
SPRINGFIELD -- Candidates looking for seats in Congress faced an early test Monday when some had to reveal how much cash they've raised in the campaign's early stages. Fundraising prowess can be an early indicator of a candidate's support. And locally, more money can mean more television ads and mailings. 18th Congressional District Three Republicans are part of the primary race for the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood of Peoria. LaHood is retiring at the end of the term, but Republicans have represented the area for decades. State Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria raised about $376,000, including $50,000 he gave himself, records show. That appears to be the most of the candidates in the race. Former Peoria City Council member and public television executive John Morris took in about $218,000, an amount he said he was happy with. ''Our campaign could not be stronger,'' he said. A total for Jim McConoughey, president of a central Illinois economic development group, wasn't available late Monday. But McConoughey said fundraising wasn't a goal of his campaign in the early going. Still, he began airing television and radio ads Monday with the goal of getting recognized. ''Our campaign has really been focused on strategy,'' McConoughey said. The Democrat in the race, former Bradley University and NBA basketball coach Dick Versace, did not have to file a campaign finance report because he only recently announced his candidacy. 11th Congressional District Like Versace, the candidates in the race to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller didn't have to file Monday, either. But they acknowledged the role money will play in the upcoming months' race toward the election. State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, a Democrat from Crete, said it was important to raise money early, even if it's not clear whether she'll have an opponent. Frankfort Democrat Robert Gorman has indicated he wants to run. ''We have to be raising money now,'' she said. ''It doesn't matter if there's a primary or not.'' Halvorson has raised money in the past as a state candidate, and had about $125,000 in her campaign fund this summer. New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said that besides raising money, he is trying to build support across the district as he seeks the GOP nomination. He said that could be easier to do with campaign cash. ''People need to know you're a serious candidate,'' he said. Balderman spent tens of thousands on his most recent race for mayor, leaving $2,000 in his campaign fund this summer. Also Monday, a 30-year-old Chicago Republican announced he will vie for Weller's seat. Jimmy Lee, who served on the White House Initiative on Asian and Pacific Islanders, has not previously held public office, but worked on Republican Jim Ryan's 2002 campaign for governor and has served as an advisor to Dupage County Board President Bob Schillerstrom and former state Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka. He said he is in the process of moving into the district, which stretches from Chicago's south suburbs to Bloomington-Normal. Lee said he has not yet collected any campaign contributions. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
|
||||||
|
 |
|
Top of Page | Home | News | Sports | Free Time | Life | Money | Nation/World | Opinion | Blogs/Columns | Archives | Site Map | RSS
Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2009, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
|