Harsdorf Outspends, Outraises Moore in July

Incumbent Sen. Sheila Harsdorf spent nearly twice as much money in July, the last full month before the Wisconsin 10th Senate District recall election than did her opponent, Shelly Moore, according to campaign finance reports filed with Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board.

Harsdorf raised $106,448 in July, about $11,000 more than Moore, who raised $95,016.

Moore received more than 6,000 contributions in July, two thirds of which came from individuals living outside of the state, though most donors who gave $50 or more hailed from Wisconsin.

Many of Moore’s contributions were in small denominations; she received 584 contributions of exactly $1, and almost three quarters of her July contributions were $10 or less.

In contrast, Harsdorf received about 800 contributions, but they came in much larger amounts. Only 10 of Harsdorf’s contributions did not come from Wisconsin or Minnesota.

Harsdorf’s Giant July

Harsdorf dug into her campaign coffers in July, spending $151,000 to Moore’s $77,000.

Much of the money went to buy television ads, said Nathan Duerkop, the Harsdorf campaign spokesman.

“We got our first ad up and running,” Duerkop said. “We could not have afforded to do it earlier on in the campaign.”

Harsdorf’s open wallet marked a large shift in the financial dynamics of the race. Moore outspent Harsdorf in previous months, according to a report released in early July.

Going into July, Harsdorf, who collected more than $100,000 in 2011 before Moore declared her candidacy, had a cash balance lead of more than $50,000 on Moore.

Now, after Harsdorf’s July push, Moore has more cash on hand than Harsdorf for the first time in the race. At the end of July, Moore had a cash balance of $112,000, while Harsdorf had $97,000.

“As the campaign winds down, you will spend money,” Duerkop said. “I’m not really sure what [the Moore campaign] is saving it for.”

Hannah Ledford, the Moore campaign spokeswoman, said that there was no strategy to “save up” campaign funds for the last few days of the race. “We have a lot of invoices from our contributors that have yet to come in,” she said.

At a glance: Harsdorf and Moore’s July Fundraising Stats

Cash raised:
Harsdorf: $106,448
Moore: $95,016

Cash spent:
Harsdorf: $151,068
Moore: $76,929

Cash on hand (end of month):
Harsdorf: $97,343
Moore: $111,610