This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 16, 2012 - Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Brunner has put in an additional $2.54 million of his own money into his campaign, for a total of almost $4.8 million since he launched his effort last fall.
Brunner is among three major Republicans competing on Aug. 7 for the chance to challenge U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. in November.
Brunner, a wealthy former businessman from Frontenac, forwarded to the Beacon late Sunday copies of his summary pages for his latest federal campaign-finance report, due today.
Brunner’s report shows that he has raised less than $600,000 -- and only about $186,000 since April 1 -- from sources other than his own pocketbook. He has spent about $5.2 million so far, with more than half -- $2.77 million – spent during the past three months.
Brunner’s report shows him with $185,932.85 in the bank as of June 30, a figure that means little since he is putting his own money into his campaign as he needs it.
Meanwhile, one of his rivals – U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood – reported spending only $1.4 million so far, less than a quarter of what Brunner has spent.
Akin actually raised more than Brunner from various donors -- $280,000 during the last three months. Akin has raised $2.19 million overall, none of it from his own pocket. Akin reported $1.4 million in the bank, as of June 30.
(Start of update) The third Republican – former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman – reported raising $241,795 for the quarter and had $561,660 in the bank as of June 30. So far, she reports putting no personal money into her effort.
The Beacon also obtained the report for the Steelman's allied SuperPac, the "Now or Never PAC,'' which reports receiving $50,000 from Maxine Steelman of Salem, Mo. She is apparently a family relative.
Overall, the PAC reported raising $75,500, spending only $4,138, with $444,150 in the bank. The PAC is expected to run ads at some point on Steelman's behalf, although it cannot coordinate with her campaign. (End of update)
McCaskill's campaign provided a copy of her report Monday, several days after she released some preliminary figures.
She has raised $2.6 million during the past three months, most of it in donations from individuals. She collected $311,350 from political action committees (PACs). So far, less than $19,000 has come from her own pocketbook.
Overall, McCaskill has raised close to $12 million in her re-election bid, which would be stunning for a Missouri U.S. Senate contest -- if not for the expectation that Brunner will continue to dip into his own resources to finance his campaign.
McCaskill already has spent close to $8.3 million, over $5 million of it just in the last three months, as she has been forced to run her own ads to counter the $7 million in attack TV spots aired by SuperPACs not officially allied with her GOP rivals.
As a result, she now has less than $4 million in the bank, which means McCaskill will need to continue to raise money at a frenzied clip since she now is spending it faster than she is raising it.
Here are the basics:
Brunner: Raised $5,381,696 ($2,739,366 since April 1)
Spent: $5,198,782 ( $2,782,352 since April 1)
Cash on hand: $182,914
Akin: Raised $2,202,553 ($283,742 since April 1)
Spent: $1,420,425 ($278,856 since April 1)
Cash on hand: $1,405,526
Steelman: Raised $1,595,564 ($241,795 for the quarter)
Spent: $1,034,904 ( $278,978 since April 1)
Cash on hand: $561,660
McCaskill: Raised $11,902,912 ($2,608,893 since April 1)
Spent: $8,283,275 ($5,050,579 since April 1)
Cash on hand: $3,641,413.
