By Scott Bauer
Associated Press
MADISON - Well-heeled donors are opening their wallets in the waning days of Wisconsin's hotly contested race for governor, cutting big checks to help both Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke.
Newly filed reports show just how much money is flooding into the race, including $5 million from Burke herself as she tries to take out Walker and derail any hopes he has of running for president in 2016.
And thanks to a recent court ruling, donors are also able to funnel large donations to political parties and others, including $1 million checks from single donors to both the Republican and Democratic parties, which can then give the money to the candidates. Both Walker and Burke benefited from the federal court decision in September which blocked the law limiting such donations to gubernatorial campaigns to no more than about $700,000.
Campaign finance records filed this week show Walker has received about $2.6 million this year from political action committees and others, while Burke has taken in just over $1 million. Since the middle of last year, Walker has raised about $25 million for the race compared with about $15 million for Burke. Outside groups are spending millions more to influence the race.
In the most recent reporting period, which covered July 29 through Oct. 20, Walker raised nearly $10.4 million compared with $9.3 million for Burke. Her campaign on Monday initially reported she had raised $10.2 million over the period, but said Tuesday that number actually referring to how much she brought in over the entire campaign, not counting the $5 million she donated from her own personal wealth.
But Burke is far from the only rich person spending big on this race.
Reports filed with the state show Beloit businesswoman and billionaire Diane Hendricks gave the state Republican Party $1 million, while Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson donated another $650,000 to the party, on top of $10,000 he gave Walker. Adelson also gave Walker $250,000 during the 2012 recall.
Milwaukee philanthropist and longtime Democratic backer Lynde Uihlein gave $1 million to the state Democratic Party and John Burke, the head of Trek Bicycles and Mary Burke's brother, gave the Democratic Party $40,000 on Oct. 20. That is on top of the $10,000 he previously donated to his sister's campaign.
Other notable donors supporting Burke include Judy Faulkner, the founder and CEO of health care software giant Epic Systems, and Pleasant Rowland, the creator of the American Girl doll company. Each gave Burke's campaign $10,000 in the past three months.
Former Columbus Mayor Michael Eisenga, who worked closely with state Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch on a bill that would have reduced child support payments for wealthy parents, gave the state Republican Party $15,000 on Sept. 26.
Kleefisch and his wife, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, took thousands of dollars in contributions from Eisenga. Kleefisch ultimately killed the bill in January amid intense scrutiny.
Walker campaigned in Wausau on Tuesday while Burke was appearing in Milwaukee with President Barack Obama. The most recent Marquette University Law School poll, released two weeks ago, showed the race to be tied. The final poll before the election is scheduled for release Wednesday.
Associated Press
MADISON - Well-heeled donors are opening their wallets in the waning days of Wisconsin's hotly contested race for governor, cutting big checks to help both Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke.
Newly filed reports show just how much money is flooding into the race, including $5 million from Burke herself as she tries to take out Walker and derail any hopes he has of running for president in 2016.
And thanks to a recent court ruling, donors are also able to funnel large donations to political parties and others, including $1 million checks from single donors to both the Republican and Democratic parties, which can then give the money to the candidates. Both Walker and Burke benefited from the federal court decision in September which blocked the law limiting such donations to gubernatorial campaigns to no more than about $700,000.
Campaign finance records filed this week show Walker has received about $2.6 million this year from political action committees and others, while Burke has taken in just over $1 million. Since the middle of last year, Walker has raised about $25 million for the race compared with about $15 million for Burke. Outside groups are spending millions more to influence the race.
In the most recent reporting period, which covered July 29 through Oct. 20, Walker raised nearly $10.4 million compared with $9.3 million for Burke. Her campaign on Monday initially reported she had raised $10.2 million over the period, but said Tuesday that number actually referring to how much she brought in over the entire campaign, not counting the $5 million she donated from her own personal wealth.
But Burke is far from the only rich person spending big on this race.
Reports filed with the state show Beloit businesswoman and billionaire Diane Hendricks gave the state Republican Party $1 million, while Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson donated another $650,000 to the party, on top of $10,000 he gave Walker. Adelson also gave Walker $250,000 during the 2012 recall.
Milwaukee philanthropist and longtime Democratic backer Lynde Uihlein gave $1 million to the state Democratic Party and John Burke, the head of Trek Bicycles and Mary Burke's brother, gave the Democratic Party $40,000 on Oct. 20. That is on top of the $10,000 he previously donated to his sister's campaign.
Other notable donors supporting Burke include Judy Faulkner, the founder and CEO of health care software giant Epic Systems, and Pleasant Rowland, the creator of the American Girl doll company. Each gave Burke's campaign $10,000 in the past three months.
Former Columbus Mayor Michael Eisenga, who worked closely with state Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch on a bill that would have reduced child support payments for wealthy parents, gave the state Republican Party $15,000 on Sept. 26.
Kleefisch and his wife, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, took thousands of dollars in contributions from Eisenga. Kleefisch ultimately killed the bill in January amid intense scrutiny.
Walker campaigned in Wausau on Tuesday while Burke was appearing in Milwaukee with President Barack Obama. The most recent Marquette University Law School poll, released two weeks ago, showed the race to be tied. The final poll before the election is scheduled for release Wednesday.