If we split these two races discussed below, we're still ahead 18-15, but Schultz is a tool, and you never know if someone else (Ellis? Olson?) wanders off.
Regardless, these are two huge races. That's why the Gadsden Group has supported both Gudex and Maaco, and if you live in those districts, obviously do everything you can to support them down ticket. Hopefully Tommy & Romney/Ryan have large coattails as well.
--WRD
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Union-funded groups spend big money to beat GOP Senate candidates
October 31st, 2012
By Ryan Ekvall
Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON – Public union interest groups are pumping pirate-ship loads of cash into two state Senate races as Election Day approaches, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state Government Accountability Board.
We Are Wisconsin and Greater Wisconsin Political Independent Expenditure Fund combined to spend $375,069 opposing Senate candidate Rick Gudex, R-Fond du Lac, and another $154,997 opposing candidate John Macco, R -De Pere.
The special interest groups, composed mostly of public-sector union support, spent another $200,478 funding the campaign of Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, and $420,550 supporting Sen. Jessica King, D-Oshkosh.
Since Sept. 10, the liberal-leaning groups’ total expenditures in the two state Senate races come to $1,151,094.
Macco is running against Hansen, the incumbent of 12 years, in the 30th Senate District. Gudex is challenging King in the 18th Senate District. King claimed the seat last year in Wisconsin’s first round of Senate recall elections.
The two Senate seats are considered up for grabs in Tuesday’s election. Republicans believe they need to flip just one of the seats to take a two-seat majority in the Senate.
The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Independent Expenditure Committee kicked in additional support for the Democratic candidates, spending $12,174 promoting Hansen and $32,422 promoting King in mailers from HSG Campaigns Oct. 10-17.
The League of Conservation Voters received its funding from We Are Milwaukee ($21,650) — also backed by public unions, but based in Milwaukee, America Voters Action Fund ($37,600) — a group backed primarily by Teamsters union, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin ($5,000) and the national League of Conservation Voters ($30,000).
The liberal groups aren’t the only one’s spending. Campaign finance reports show the American Federation for Children Action Fund Wisconsin Independent Expenditure Committee, the Wisconsin arm of a national organization promoting school choice, spent $114,448 in TV time for Gudex and $25,952 in mailers opposing King.
And that’s just the outside spending. Candidate committees are raising and spending cash of their own in the final push before the election.
Between July 31 and Oct. 22, Gudex raised $224,869. He spent $228,091 and has $56,629 cash on hand, according to the latest campaign filings. King raised $158,700. She spent $131,972 and has $107,865 on hand. King raised more than $300,000 in her successful recall campaign in 2011, when she defeated recalled Republican Sen. Randy Hopper.
In the same period, Macco raised $148,087. He spent $105,879 and has $42,208 on hand. Hansen, the incumbent since 2000, raised $92,112. He spent $135,824 and has $96,934 on hand.
Hansen survived a recall attempt in 2011.
Contact Ekvall at rekvall@wisconsinreporter.com
