Foster outraises Hultgren in 14th District race

Republican candidate for the 14th Congressional District, Randy Hultgren, had, by far, his best fundraising period in the lead up for the stretch run of the campaign.

However, Hultgren's best effort continues a theme in the campaign that's seen incumbent Democrat Bill Foster outraise and outspend his most high-profile challenger.

In raw numbers, Foster raised about $646,000 from July 1 to Sept. 30 compared to Hultgren's $445,000. The fundraising gap is considerably less if a $105,000 loan Foster contributed to his coffers is subtracted from the total. Foster's campaign also has more than $900,000 of outstanding debt. Hultgren's total is nearly $200,000 better than his fundraising efforts in previous periods. That left his campaign feeling pretty confident about how those dollars may turn into votes on Nov. 2.

“This was an outstanding quarter for Randy's campaign and demonstrated the broad support he's gaining within the 14th Congressional District, said Hultgren Spokesman Gill Stevens in an e-mail interview. “These donations will be used through print media and media advertisement to spread Randy's fiscally conservative message of lower taxes, less spending and reducing the size and scope of the federal government.

Yet the final two weeks could see more of an advertising deluge from the Foster camp than Hultgren. Foster has more than twice as much money, on hand, for a media blitz than Hultgren at this point. And Foster's campaign manager, Brandon Pinette, confirmed Foster has already purchased the big-ticket TV time for getting the message out in the last two weeks of the race.

“When we needed it most, our Republican, Democratic and Independent supporters responded, Pinette said. “They gave us our best fundraising quarter of the 2010 campaign because they know someone with Bill Foster's background and experience in creating jobs is what is needed in Washington.

With only the final 30 days of fundraising left to report, the 14th Congressional District race in 2010 has proved to have one of the higher price tags in recent memory.

All told, Hultgren has raised $1.22 million. Foster banked $2.79 million. Third-party candidates Dan Kairis, of the Green Party, and Doug Marks, a Libertarian write-in candidate, have made their lack of fundraising in the race a platform to draw voters. Both candidates have repeatedly said they believe special interest groups who contribute big dollars to political campaigns have dirtied Washington politics.