Outside groups pour money into Wisconsin races

[undeterred]

WASHINGTON -- Outside groups have spent more than $1.1 million to influence voters in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, where Democratic state Sen. Julia Lassa and Republican former county prosecutor Sean Duffy are locked in a battle to replace the retiring Dave Obey.

Most of the money is being spent on advertising in the form of independent expenditures by groups other than political action committees. As of Friday, outside groups had spent $629,142 on ads opposing Lassa and $475,028 on ads against Duffy. Overall, the $1,190,855 in independent expenditures on the 7th District race ranks 13th among all 435 races for the House of Representatives in this midterm election year.

Wisconsin's Senate race also is attracting a lot of outside money. Groups have spent $896,933 on the contest between incumbent Russ Feingold, D-Middleton, and Republican Ron Johnson of Oshkosh. More than $638,000 has been spent by organizations opposing Feingold. No money was spent on ads against Johnson, while $243,675 was spent on his behalf.

The outside spending data were compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign money based on Federal Election Commission records.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20101010/CWS0101/10100504/Outside-groups-pour-money-into-Wisconsin-races