Clinton, Bush raise big bucks from Illinoisans

Democrat Hillary Clinton has raised the most money from Illinoisans among presidential candidates by far, and former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush has fared the best here among Republicans, federal campaign records show.

This week, candidates had to report on their most recent fundraising hauls, and the Federal Election Commission tracks how much candidates raise in each state during the presidential campaign.

Clinton, who grew up in Park Ridge, has raised $2.6 million from Illinois residents throughout the campaign. Bush has raised $478,795, the data shows.

Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has raised more from Illinoisans than any Republican except Bush, taking in $360,903. And the Republican closest to Bush's numbers here is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who raised $355,783 but has since abandoned his campaign.

Fundraising successes or failures can show a campaign's power in a state, but numbers aren't everything. Republican Donald Trump, widely seen as the GOP front-runner nationwide, has raised just $22,725 from Illinois residents, according to the FEC numbers.

And while Illinois' primary isn't until March 15, local supporters of candidates have pointed to the Chicago area as a key fundraising stop even if the state isn't a focus of vote-getting yet.

Those numbers are likely to change fast, too, as candidates continue to develop their organizations in Illinois. Bush has former Gov. Jim Edgar on board his campaign, and former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has state Sen. Mike Connelly of Lisle as one of his state chairmen.

Walker had a strong early organization here with the support of House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, and Trump only recently named Springfield attorney Kent Gray as his Illinois leader.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced his team this week, led by Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno. He has raised $139,700 here so far, and Rubio has pulled in $283,520.

Toward the bottom of the list: Mundelein's Carmel High School attendee Rick Santorum has raised $9,290 in Illinois, according to the federal records, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry raised just $1,000 here before dropping out.

Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal doesn't make the FEC list at all, having raised nothing from state residents so far.

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