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This just in… Pathetic

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Illinois

* 3:27 pm - Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle finally released his mayoral campaign finance report, which was due last night at midnight. His total cash raised? $59,440.

Yes, you read that right.

Cash on hand as of December 31st: $2,115.33.

Oy.

Money isn’t everything in politics, but it is a very important means of gauging a candidate’s support. Del Valle formed his committee on October 1st. That gave him three full months to raise money.

Miguel del Valle was always one of my favorite state Senators. He’s a decent, kind man who fought the good fight and won. But that was then and this is now, and I just hate to see him go out this way.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:27 pm

Comments

Damn, that’s brutal.

Comment by Northsider Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:33 pm
Look on the bright side, he can always run for AG on the Republican ticket with that kind of fundraising.

Comment by Obamarama Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:34 pm
Miguel never had the most money in any of his contested Senate races, he will get more votes per dollar spent than any other candidate. Probably won’t get into the runoff but will always have his dignity

Comment by NotRMiller Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:36 pm
Del Valle is who I will be voting for on February 22nd and between now and then I will help his campaign as much as possible but yeah, that is pretty brutal. Too bad because the top three are so seriously flawed it isn’t even funny. I might suggest he back one of them but none of them are worthy of the support of someone with his reputation.

Comment by Lakefront Liberal Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:39 pm
===Miguel never had the most money in any of his contested Senate races===

Correct. But he always had enough money to compete. Now is a far different story.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:39 pm
That’s not enough to pay a fine for the late report. At this rate, given the money info you sent to subscribers today, can this even be a contest?

Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:41 pm
$2,200.00? … Can he borrow money from his state pension …

That is less than $1 … per precinct!!!!!

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:46 pm
Ouch. Makes me wonder why Watkins can’t get into the forums/debates. She at least has way more financial backing (which doesn’t usually mean anything).

Comment by KSP Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:47 pm
Isn’t that balance the usual “walking around” money given to every precinct?

I bet Miguel wishes he stayed being City Clerk…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 3:52 pm
When is the Appellate Court going to release their decision on the objections to Rahm’s candidacy?

Comment by phocion Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 4:13 pm
You got me, phocion. I’ve been refreshing that page all day. Nothing.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 4:13 pm
Wow. That’s sad. Unlike CMB who overstated her totals, I really like Miguel and have been planning to vote for him. He is the only thing even resembling a reformer in this race. Unfortunately, a prerequisite for running for office is the ability to race decent cash. This isn’t. Since he has ZERO chance to win, he should drop out now and endorse what he views as the lesser of the remaining evils.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 4:18 pm
It’s even worse - he only had 47 itemized entries, several of which involve people who gave more than once. He found just 35 people to give him enough money to require reporting it.

I mean, I don’t live in the 2nd Senate district, so maybe my friends are a little more upscale - but I’m not wealthy and my friends aren’t wealthy. But if I ran for office, I know I could find more people to give me $150 than he did after 20 years in office and with serious attention from the newspapers. 35 people!?!

I don’t think that was his capacity. I think they didn’t really tried to raise money. There was some sort of short-circuit in somebody’s brain over there. Somebody at that campaign must have thought “money? We can do without money!” Somebody made some really bad decisions for them to arrive at this.

Comment by irv & ashland Friday, Jan 21, 11 @ 11:38 pm
I can’t in good faith support MDV, fundraising is important. It shows community and business support. If you’re the grassroots candidate, fine, get 1000 $10 donations. Show the people are behind you and that you could raise more. But this is pathetic. If you can’t have the awkward conversations and ask people to endorse your vision now what happens when you have to reorganize the school board or cut pensions? Showing power is not selling out.

Comment by hammer Saturday, Jan 22, 11 @ 5:48 pm
Why must you all fall prey to the idea that you need all that money to run? Which way do you all want it, the bought way or the worked for way?
Del Valle is the one and it seems like most of you are smart enough to know it but still continue to give in to this idea that “WE THE PEOPLE” can’t do it. WE the Chicagoans will do it for Del Valle.
You know Del Valle has the best and most honest record for this job, spread the word. delvalleformayor.com
Del Valle has also been picking up the most endorsements lately.
His endorsements are not coming from another state (Rahm) or people he’s been promising positions to (Chico). Del Valle is getting endorsements from people who believe that he will give Chicago back to Chicago.
delvalleformayor.com
GO BEARS

Comment by greenmind Saturday, Jan 22, 11 @ 10:47 pm
=== the bought way or the worked for way?===

Raising money is part of working a campaign. That’s just the way it is.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 24, 11 @ 9:17 am