There are 311 candidates running for state Senate and Assembly in Wisconsin this fall.
And none of them - from Madison's most entrenched pols to young Tea Party upstarts - have raised more money this year than Leah Vukmir.
In the first half of 2010, the Republican has taken in more than $85,000 in her bid to unseat incumbent Democrat Jim Sullivan in the 5th District State Senate race.
In fact, since she started running for the seat, Vukmir has raised more than $225,000. Combined with the $160,000 that Sullivan has netted in this election cycle, nearly $400,000 has been raised in the 5th District battle, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state. And that doesn't count any spending done by outside groups.
Those kind of numbers say a lot about the GOP's belief that it can wrestle away the seat- and possibly control of the Senate itself - from the opposition.
A competitive battle
"The amount of money raised for this race, and the race where Sullivan beat Reynolds for the seat in 2006, shows this suburban Milwaukee Senate district is consistently one of the most targeted and competitive legislative races in the state," said Michael Buelow, research director for the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The 5th District is one of three districts - the others are the 23rd and 31st - in which a freshman Democrat faces a strong GOP challenger, he added.
"All three will face tough re-election bids. If any two of these seats flip, so does control of the Senate. So, the 5th District seat is very important to both Republicans and Democrats - again," Buelow said.
Plenty of cash left
The amount of cash Vukmir has received in the first half of the year is more than double the $42,000 Sullivan had taken in. But Sullivan still ranks sixth among all legislative candidates in fundraising during that time.
And, perhaps most important, both candidates are entering into the final months of the campaign with roughly the same amount of campaign cash on hand: about $120,000.
Perhaps more telling than the total amount raised is how much of it is coming from outside the 5th District.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analyzed the money contributed to Vukmir and Sullivan from 2007 to 2009 by individuals who gave $100 or more to either candidate.
Of the $98,000 that Sullivan received in large contributions during that time, 12 percent came from donors who don't live in Wisconsin. Of Vukmir's $125,000 in contributions of $100 or more, 8 percent is out-of-state cash.
And while both candidates live in Wauwatosa, the vast majority of their money is coming from outside city limits.
For Sullivan, just 7 percent of the money he took in came from Wauwatosa residents; for Vukmir, it was 14 percent.
A closer look at the numbers shows that at least 12 of Sullivan's top 15 contributors - those who gave $1,000 or more - are from outside the 5th District. Fourteen of the 27 donors who gave at least that amount to Vukmir don't live in the district.
BY THE NUMBERS
$227,643
raised by Leah Vukmir so far
$159,753
raised by Jim Sullivan
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
Beyond the border
• Republican Leah Vukmir has received at least $9,800 in individual contributions from outside Wisconsin, including $2,000 each from donors in San Francisco and Ada, Mich.
• Democrat Jim Sullivan received at least $12,400 in out-of-state money, including $6,000 combined from six donors in New York.
Source: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from News and Features
- Business Calendar: Feb. 16-March 28
- Grab a Bite: One Way Cafe: A Tosa Village melting pot
- Teen accused of trying to rob four people
- Business Calendar: Feb. 15-25
- St. Jude embraces history
- Innovation Park road plan reviewed
- Fight in mall parking lot leads to charges (6)
- Police Report: Feb. 8
- Striking a balance between growth and green space
- It can't be business all the time
2 COMMENTS
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
YOU MUST NOT MISS IT!!!
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
Hello! The burning hot summer arrived, this is the demonstration stature
- Share
-
Back to toplgugiui - Sep 02, 2010 10:11 PM - Report Abuse
http://www.kogoal.com
Our company specializes in manufacturing from located in CHINA and
Netherlands,With more than 6 Years of experience,we are mainly dealing
with are:Nike shox,Christan Audigier t-sh irt,Ed Hardy,COACH Bag,New Era
cap ,Tiffany_Ring. More products.
Supply . COACH Bag,Nike shox.Ed Hardy t- sh irt.
Safe Payment.Paypal
Fast Shipment.5-7 days you can receive your order product.
No min order request.You can order only one product
Free Shipping.The price on our website are including
everything.
http://www.kogoal.com
kogoal,Inc. We are the best online dealer,about all kinds of jordan.run
retailing and wholesale trade wordwidely for years. Free Shipping And
Customs,Super Sale Off Retailing,With 1Week Delivery to your door.
http://www.kogoal.com
a leading worldwide w holesaler company (or ucan say organization). We
supply more than 100 thousand high-quality merchandise and famous brand
name products all at wholesale prices.
http://www.kogoal.com
ffdv
lgugiui - Sep 02, 2010 10:10 PM - Report Abuse
good season,
the retreat winter sincere appearance, lets lithe, the individuality, the
fashion,
the sex appeal, mature you start from here! Has a good news to tell
everybody: Recently,
every bought full 200 US dollars in this company, then has the present to see
off,
Vietnam which buys delivers are more, please do not miss this good
opportunity!!!
welcome to :====== http://www.newgoing.com/ ====
free shipping
competitive price
any size available
accept the paypal
fbsf