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Eyeing Senate bid, Mark Kirk raises $580,000

By Mike Dorning

WASHINGTON--North Shore Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, who has been contemplating a costly run for the U.S. Senate or governor, reported Monday that he has built up a campaign warchest of more than $1 million.

Kirk raised more than $580,000 during the second quarter of the year, according to a statement his campaign released. Such a fundraising performance is robust by the standards of U.S. House members but lags slightly behind the amount of money Kirk raised during the same period in the last election cycle.

A statement released by spokesman Eric Elk described the results as "on pace" with Kirk's fundraising during the second quarter of last election cycle. Kirk raised $606,000 during the second quarter of 2007 and had accumulated a balance of $1.1 million at the end of the period.

During the last election cycle, Kirk was among the most prodigious fundraisers in the U.S. House outside of the party leadership, drawing on a support base in a wealthy region to defend a swing congressional district fiercely contested by the opposition Democrats.

The statement from Kirk's campaign described this year's fundraising as "strong" given the economic recession.

"I am humbled that during these difficult economic times, our support is stronger than ever," Kirk said in a written statement.

With Republicans no longer in control of either the White House or Congress, GOP candidates generally also are having a more difficult time raising money than when their party wielded power in Washington.

Kirk is being encouraged by Republican party leaders to make a bid for either the U.S. Senate or governor in the 2010 election.

The campaign treasury Kirk has accumulated is particularly important should he choose to make a bid for the U.S. Senate because the money can be used in any federal campaign.

Federal campaign funds must comply with restrictive rules which limit contributions to $2,400 per person. Illinois state law does not impose limits on campaign contributions, making it easier to quickly amass funds for a run at a state office.

In a mid-April speech to the City Club of Chicago, Kirk had promised to make a decision on seeking one of the offices by the end of the month but then let the deadline slip and has yet to make an announcement of his intentions.

Kirk's campaign released the fundraising totals in advance of July 15 legal deadline for disclosing fundraising activity through July 15. The campaign did not provide data on individual contributors and expenses, which must be released by the deadline.

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