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In the second quarter of 2008, Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis — the Republican Party choice to face Democratic Rep. Tim Walz — resoundingly out-fundraised challenger Owatonna Sen. Dick Day, who didn’t seek the party endorsement but will challenge Davis in the September primary.
Davis hauled in $391,603, while Day tallied just $10,598 in total receipts. Davis loaned $100,000 to his own campaign as part of his total.
The second-quarter figure put Davis barely behind Walz, who raised $438,086 in the same span. Walz’s war chest, at more than $1.2 million, still comfortably leads Davis’ cash on-hand, at about $377,000.
Davis spokesman Brad Biers said their campaign has focused almost completely on the general election.
“Because of the reaction we’ve gotten from individual activists and from fundraising, we’ve basically ignored Dick to this point,” Biers said.
But Day said he hopes to out-hustle the Davis campaign. Day, who said he spent Thursday and Friday in Caledonia, Spring Grove and Goodview, said he’s door-knocking in every 1st District city of more than 800 people. The 1st District covers southern Minnesota from Wisconsin to South Dakota.
“We’re hoping that meeting people will be more important than all the money,” Day said.
In March, 1st District delegates gave Davis — a political newcomer — a first-ballot endorsement over Day, an 18-year veteran at the Capitol in St. Paul.
Day has touted his lengthier political resume, but for now, the GOP fundraising establishment is following the party’s lead in backing Davis. We’ll find out on Sept. 9 if voters will follow suit.
Contact Mark Sommerhauser at (507) 453-3514 or msommerhauser@winonadailynews.com
Molerat wrote on Jul 21, 2008 2:17 PM: