Wide difference in 6th District campaign coffers

Democrat Jill Morgenthaler will need a windfall in the next few weeks if she hopes to keep up financially with Republican Peter Roskam in the race for the 6th Congressional District.

Morgenthaler, a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel from Des Plaines, reported $160,800 cash on hand at the end of September in required disclosure filings with the Federal Election Commission.

By contrast, Roskam, the incumbent congressman and a Wheaton attorney, had about $1.1 million in his coffers.

It's likely Roskam will press his advantage by continuing with a barrage of radio and television ads aimed at his rival.

Roskam is a member of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Among his major contributors were financial companies including Accenture PAC, the American Bankers Association, the Capital One Financial Political Fund and New York Stock Exchange Inc. PAC.

Roskam had multiple donors and it was "not surprising these organizations would support him," spokesman Matt Vriesma said, adding that such contributions would not influence any of his votes.