Duckworth gaining on Krishnamoorthi in 8th District fundraising
Tammy Duckworth displayed an edge in fourth-quarter fundraising totals over 8th District Democratic primary opponent Raja Krishnamoorthi, but his overall war chest still remains larger.
According to year-end campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission, Duckworth, of Hoffman Estates, has $561,651 in cash on hand. Krishnamoorthi, also of Hoffman Estates, has $791,157.
Duckworth has raised a total of $949,317 this election cycle after jumping into the race nearly two months after Krishnamoorthi announced his congressional bid. Of that, $470,987 came from the fourth quarter of 2011.
Krishnamoorthi's receipts total just over $1 million. He raised $290,372 last quarter.
Duckworth, formerly assistant secretary of veterans affairs in the Obama administration, saw $42,250 of her money come from political action committees this quarter and $428,534 from individuals.
Her donor base includes a number of big names from across the country — including consultant/Democratic strategist David Axelrod of Chicago; real estate developer Neil Bluhm, owner of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines; and former tennis pro Billie Jean King.
Krishnamoorthi, on the other hand, saw $274,489 come from individuals and $14,900 from political action committees. His donor list is filled with South Asian community members from around the area and across the country, including Central Clinical Labs president Imtiaz Ahmad of Chicago, Key Management Group CEO Subhash Bhatia of New York and Baywood Hotels Developer Amit-Al Patel of Maryland.
Krishnamoorthi campaign spokesman Mike Murray has said that the numbers demonstrate Krishnamoorthi can win in the March 20 primary and “that we will be able to raise the resources to prevail against Tea Party Republican Joe Walsh in November.” Walsh, of McHenry, is unopposed in the primary.
Duckworth on Wednesday released a statement noting that her fourth-quarter fundraising totals made her one of the top House fundraisers in the country for a second quarter in a row.
Krishnamoorthi, to date, has released four direct mail pieces to members of the newly drawn 8th Congressional District, centered in Schaumburg and including parts of Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Addison and Elk Grove Village. Duckworth has released two.
Neither candidate has yet begun to air television or radio ads.
Chicago is considered to be the third most expensive media market in the country.