The Illinois Observer Illinois Poltics at a Glare

(Chicago) – Treasurer Dan Rutherford on Sunday hailed his latest fundraising as a he edged closer to “a likely gubernatorial bid.”

Rutherford filed his first quarter results of 2013, raising $309,012.

The first term treasurer, who has been laying the ground work for a 2014 gubernatorial campaign since his first days in office, spent $163,007 and had $739,714 in the bank.

Rutherford’s press statement noted that during the first quarter that he had collected his money from 1025 individual contributors and that only 1% of the contributors were from outside of Illinois. That was a veiled swipe at GOP businessman and political insider Bruce Rauner whose exploratory campaign raised $1,297,200 from only 235 contributors, many of whom are from out of state.

“It is an honor to have such a broad base of support and a showing of strong grass roots encouragement,” stated Rutherford.

In the last quarter of 2012, Rutherford, a former state representative and state senator, raised $217,569 and spent $90,494.

While Rutherford boosted his fundraising by $91,443 in the first quarter of 2013, he also increased his spending by $73,000, principally on direct mail.

Meanwhile, other likely GOP challengers, State Senators Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Bill Brady of Bloomington have yet to file their first quarter results. U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) reportedly raised $800,000.

Rutherford’s fundraising is respectable, but it falls short of making him a formidable opponent among the ranks of  Rauner and Schock. If he pulls the trigger, he’ll need to rely on his grassroots network that he has assiduously cultivated over the years to compensate in the 2014 primary.

Stay tuned.

davidormsby@illinoisobserver.net

Twitter @IL_Observer

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