Oberweis puts out appeal for campaign cash

Supporters of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis got a wake-up call from the Spring Grove Republican Tuesday.

"My finance director just called me with an update on our situation," he emailed backers. "It's not good."

Oberweis, a state senator, is running against incumbent Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, in the Nov. 4 election. With just a day before the Federal Election Commission's final reporting deadline for the last quarter, "we're still $24,735 away from our midmonth goal," Oberweis said.

"If we don't hit this benchmark, we're going to have to start scaling back our get-out-the-vote strategy across Illinois."

As far as fundraising goes, Durbin has a comfortable lead on Oberweis, chairman of Oberweis Dairy, according to federal data.

Oberweis has lent his campaign $1 million in the last year. His total cash on hand was $862,132 as of July, according to the latest FEC report.

Durbin's war chest was $6.5 million in July, FEC records show.

Vice President Joe Biden was expected to stump for Durbin in Illinois at an Oct. 22 rally. Former GOP presidential candidate and talk show personality Herman Cain appeared for Oberweis earlier this month.

The website OpenSecrets.org reports Durbin's top contributors' over the last five years include: personal injury lawyers - the Simmons Law Firm and Cooney & Conway; defense contractor Northrop Grumman; MacAndrews & Forbes, a holding company; and United Technologies, an aviation and building company.

Oberweis donors giving more than $2,500 this election cycle include: Arlington International Racecourse owner Richard Duchossois, construction company Ozinga Bros., David Grainger of W.W. Grainger, Winston and Strawn Chairman Dan Webb and members of the Oberweis family.