Kirk out-raises Giannoulias, Dold edges Seals in second quarter

Two North suburban Republicans out-raised their Democratic opponents in Congressional and Senate races, according to second quarter campaign figures released Thursday.

Senate candidate Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, took in $2.3 million over the past three months - nearly three times Democratic candidate and Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' $900,000.

Kirk has $3.95 million cash on hand, according to the report his campaign submitted to the Federal Election Commission Thursday night.

Giannoulias has just more than $1 million in cash, according to campaign spokeswoman Kathleen Strand.

Both candidates have been in hot water recently - Giannoulias over the collapse of his family's Chicago bank and Kirk over allegations of an embellished military record.

Yet Kirk reported June as his largest fundraising month - the same time he was dealing with questions about his service as a Navy reservist.

Giannoulias Thursday criticized Kirk for taking contributions from corporate political action committees and federal lobbyists. Giannoulias, Strand said, has a self-imposed pledge to reject such contributions.

He also trailed $1 million behind Kirk in fundraising in the first quarter, from January through the end of March.

The race for Kirk's old seat in the 10th Congressional District, covering eastern Lake and northeastern Cook County, including the affluent North Shore, shows less of a money gap.

Democratic Candidate Dan Seals, of Wilmette, and Republican Robert Dold of Kenilworth raised $556,156 and $564,243, respectively, in the second quarter.

Seals spokeswoman Aviva Gibbs said Seals now has just shy of $800,000 in cash on hand. Dold has $725,000, spokeswoman Kelly Klopp said.

Both candidates have raised about $1.5 million total.

Figures reported to the Federal Election Commission for the first quarter showed Seals had more than $634,000 in net contributions compared with about $462,000 for Dold.

Seals reported having about $458,000 cash on hand as of March 31, compared with about $382,000 for Dold.

"Each quarter we have raised more than the one before, which reflects the building enthusiasm with my candidacy and momentum in the campaign," Dold said in a statement.

Midnight was the deadline for candidates to file reports detailing fundraising from March 31 through June 30.

Several other suburban congressional campaigns said Thursday that they were still checking over last-minute details and planned to submit their reports by midnight.

• Daily Herald news services contributed to this report.