Hare's Race

Downstate congressman collects contributions while unopposed

Downstate congressman Phil Hare ran unopposed this year but he still raised $143,000 from January to September and another estimated in October. Who gave money to an unopposed candidate?

Monsanto, Anheuser-Busch, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Ameren, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the American Postal Workers Union, among others.

"Money left over after costs incurred in last week’s election will be used to fund his next campaign," the GalesburgRegister-Mailreports.

(The Center for Responsive Politics reports even higher numbers: $830.493 raised over the last two-year cycle.)

Pols always deny links between campaign contributors and their votes, but those who gave to Hare must feel they are investing in something, though it's not clear what. Hare sits on the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Leading contributors to Hare, a former factory worker and union organizer, are typically unions.

Hare says on his campaign website that his priorities are enacting " universal health care, end[ing] our dependence on foreign oil, and bring[ing] our troops home from Iraq."

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