Rep. Tammy Duckworth raised nearly three times as much money as Sen. Mark Kirk in the second quarter of 2016.
Kirk, who is one of the most vulnerable senators up for re-election in November, raised $1 million during the second quarter, while his opponent, Duckworth, raised $2.7 million.
In response to the numbers, the Duckworth campaign painted Kirk as a candidate who is beholden to big banks and wealthy donors.
“Mark Kirk has spent 16 years in Washington doing whatever the Wall Street Banks and corporate special interests that fund his campaigns want him to do, like supporting tax loopholes that companies use when they ship American jobs overseas and opposing efforts to allow Americans to refinance their student loan debt,” Duckworth campaign spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement. “Given Kirk’s devotion to his wealthy campaign contributors over Illinois families, it’s a bit of a surprise to see such pathetic fundraising, but clearly Wall Street banks know when to cut their losses on a lousy investment.”
Kirk’s campaign reacted to the accusations Monday, pointing to Duckworth’s ties to big business.
“Rep. Duckworth operates at the corner of hypocrisy and self-interest,” Kirk campaign spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in a statement. “While using Harry Reid’s cash and DC talking points to attack US companies, she is simultaneously soliciting donations from these same companies and also buying their stock. It is this exact type of DC double-talk that is fueling voters’ anger and mistrust with politicians like Rep. Duckworth."
Despite the deficit, the Kirk campaign remained optimistic about the fundraising numbers.
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“For the sixth quarter in a row, Senator Kirk has raised over a million dollars with the vast majority coming from Illinois donors and supporters,” Demertzis said. “Senator Kirk’s independent voice and thoughtful leadership have resonated with the people of Illinois who want to ensure Mark continues to represent them in the U.S. Senate.”
The second quarter of 2016 accounts for April, May and June. Fundraising reports must be post-marked by July 15 and mailed to the Senate Office of Public Records where they are filed and scanned online.
Duckworth’s campaign currently has $5.5 million on hand, while Kirk has $3.1 million.
