Hughes tries to get campaign started with $250,000

Republican Senate hopeful Patrick Hughes of Hinsdale has chipped in a quarter of a million dollars to his own campaign, attempting to gain traction and attract other donors.

Hughes, a real estate developer, has received early backing from several social conservative groups, including Family PAC, and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, who has floated his name for office before.

In addition to Hughes, several names are being floated as possible candidates in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, while a considerable number of party leaders already are backing U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park in the contest.

Kirk is dominating the cash race to date, declaring earlier this week that he took in $1.6 million over the summer, leaving $2.3 million in his campaign fund.

Hughes is just starting his fundraising efforts, having launched his campaign in August. He says he took in about $130,000 in donations from supporters as of the end of September, when the federal quarterly reporting period ended. And he loaned his campaign $250,000 of his own money.

Official fundraising reports are not due in until Oct. 15, but often times candidates announce what they have raised in advance to drum up support and show progress.

Hughes, 40, said Thursday he sees himself as an underdog to Kirk, but believes Republicans unhappy with the lawmaker's support of some Democratic proposals will flock to his campaign.

"I have a well-funded, established opponent. He has some significant backing in this race," Hughes said. "But his challenge is to defeat a new voice, offering a fresh perspective, who adheres to the values of the Republican Party."

Kirk has long defended his positions on abortion and gun rights against attacks from some in his own party who view them as too liberal. In the north suburban 10th District, where he has won five terms, Kirk has championed himself as an independent politician, willing to buck traditional GOP positions.

But since running for Senate, he has focused more on his positions that adhere to party doctrine. While he took heat for supporting President Barack Obama's cap-and-trade energy proposal, Kirk now says he would vote against it if elected to the Senate.

Hughes, who has never run for political office before, said he expects his fundraising to increase exponentially as the February primary gets closer.

On the Democratic side, appointed Sen. Roland Burris, a Chicago Democrat, has said he will not seek election. The seat was previously held by Obama.

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson are among those in the running.