* Campaign finance reports have been rolling out for congressional candidates this week. Let’s start with the 8th District Democratic primary…

In the race to win the Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District, Tammy Duckworth has been enjoying a poll advantage. Her campaign’s latest survey shows her with a 42 point lead.

But, when it comes to financing, Raja Krishnamoorthi has $791,000 cash on hand compared to Duckworth’s $562,000.

Duckworth had a big fourth quarter of fund raising, but not enough to overcome Krishnamoorthi’s financial lead.

“Raja has raised more money than Duckworth because he has a stronger message,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Mike Murray.

The Duckworth campaign responds:

“The difference between cash on hand available for the primary is around $140,000. In the Chicago media market, that’s about three day’s worth of television. He would need a lot more than that to make up a 40 point difference in the polling,” said spokeswoman Kaitlin Fahey.

Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, who will face the winner here, raised $146,880 last quarter and had $460,437 cash on hand.

Raja has raised more because he started earlier. And Fahey is probably right about that 40-point difference being too great to be overcome with $140K. I still don’t get why Raja didn’t run in the 10th. He would’ve been almost a sure thing in the primary and given Congressman Dold a real run.

* Speaking of the 10th…

Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) raised $356,831 for his reelection bid for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2011, and now has $1.24 million in the bank, according to a campaign spokesperson. […]

Deerfield management consultant Brad Schneider raised more than $134,000 for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2011, for his Tenth Congressional District campaign in trying to unseat Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth). […]

Schneider raised more than $630,000 since beginning his effort in May, and has more than $450,000 in the bank.

Earlier this month, Waukegan community organizer Ilya Sheyman and Long Grove business owner John Tree reported their fundraising efforts for the quarter.

Sheyman collected in excess of $180,000 for the period with more than $200,000 cash on hand. Tree, who entered the race in November, raised $101,000 with $80,000 on hand.

* Kinzinger with the edge in what has shaped up to be a very negative GOP primary battle…

In a remap-inspired matchup of two incumbent Republican congressman in northwestern Illinois’ 16th District, 19-year Rep. Donald Manzullo of Leaf River reported having $522,864 to start 2012 after raising $169,867 in the final three months of last year.

Manzullo’s GOP primary opponent, first-term Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Manteno reported raising $286,260 and had $651,089 in campaign cash on hand.

From Politico’s David Catanese…

Informed Republicans say Manzullo is on retirement watch.

Hadn’t heard that. Interesting.

*** UPDATE *** From Congressman Manzullo’s campaign spokesman…

Rich,

Unfortunately, David Catanese did not contact us before he printed the unsubstantiated retirement rumors from “informed Republicans.” It’s ridiculous on its face to say such a thing when we have more than a half million dollars on hand with less than seven weeks until the election.

The fact is, our fundraising totals right now are solid. We held several successful fundraisers in January that are not reflected in the current totals with several more to come. Congressman Manzullo outraised Congressman Kinzinger by $110,000 the previous filing period (third quarter of 2011), and we likely will have a similar amount of cash on hand once the January fundraising is reflected. Money will not be a factor in this race. What will be a factor is grassroots activism, and Congressman Manzullo is getting strong support from all areas of the new district. He has been endorsed by several major conservative organizations, and has amassed a strong campaign team of area Republican officials, business owners, farmers, and Tea Party leaders throughout the 16th District. Congressman Manzullo has the strong conservative record, the leadership experience, and the plans to help strengthen our economy and help put Americans back to work, and that’s why he is getting so much support for re-election.

Thanks,

Rich Carter
Manzullo campaign spokesman

* An impressive haul by Bustos…

Democrat Cheri Bustos, still facing a contested primary, came within nearly $1,000 of raising as much money in the last three months of 2011 as incumbent Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill., in the 17th Congressional District race, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

In the reports, which were due Tuesday by midnight, Bustos, a former East Moline alderwoman and hospital executive, said she had raised $219,068 between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. Schilling reported raising $219,955.

It’s rare for challengers to raise as much money as incumbents.

Even with that, however, the freshman Republican maintained more than twice the cash balance as Bustos with nearly two months of campaigning left before the state’s March 20 primary.

Schilling said he had $612,022 in the bank at the end of 2011, while Bustos reported $278,897 in cash on hand. This was the second full quarter of fundraising for her. Schilling filed four quarterly reports last year.

After the 2010 election, Schilling was considered by Democrats to be one of the easier freshmen marks here. The guy is an amazingly hard worker and has moderated his tone considerably. He won’t be a pushover by any means.

Bustos’ Democratic primary opponents raised practically no money…

Augustana College administrator Greg Aguilar only raised $6,618, FEC filings reveal, with roughly $16,000 cash on hand. Freeport Mayor George Gualrapp raised $9,980 total as of September 2011.

I guess I’ll never quite figure out why people run for office if they’re unwilling to do the necessary work to win.

* A miniscule buy, but Gidwitz is obviously trying to raise enough cash to be a real player…

With the Illinois primary still seven weeks away, a business-oriented political group headed by Chicago business activist Ronald Gidwitz is launching attack ads against a likely Democratic opponent of Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Hinsdale.

The $25,000 cable TV buy takes aim at Bill Foster, a former scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory who served one term in Congress before losing two years ago to Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield.

Mr. Foster has two opponents in the Democratic primary, Aurora attorney Juan Thomas and James Hickey, president of the Orland Park Fire Protection District. But Mr. Gidwitz said, “it’s pretty clear to us” that his group is targeting the likely nominee.

The 30-second ad, called “Signs,” consists of a piano dirge in the background with a voice-over saying: “There were signs that Bill Foster would be bad for Illinois,” citing his votes for health care reform and a bill to make it easier for unions to organize. “How many signs that Bill Foster would be bad for jobs do we really need?” The ad closes with an image of a man in a work shirt taping a sign to a window that reads “Closed — Going out of Business.”

So far, the New Prosperity Foundation (one of those newfangled “SuperPACs”) has raised $205K and had $133K on hand at the start of the year.

* Here’s the anti-Foster ad. Rate it…

* J3 catches up…

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. raised twice as much money as rival Debbie Halvorson in the last quarter of 2011. But with money she already had in her account, the two head into next month’s Democratic primary for the South Side and south suburban 2nd Congressional seat with a roughly equal amount of money to spend.

Jesse Jackson Jr.: $115,046; $262,942

Debbie Halvorson: $66,360; $260,727

* Roundup…

* Is Randy Hultgren Hinting about a Statewide Run?

* Gill challenges Goetten to 13th District debates

* NRCC picks Joe Walsh for Patriot Program

* Schilling votes to freeze own pay

* Manzullo Votes to Continue Pay Freeze

* Rep. Walsh Takes Stand Against Contraceptive Mandate