by Jim Tankersley
Republicans have yet to recruit a high-profile challenger to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), but that hasn’t stopped Durbin from hoarding cash like an incumbent expecting a fierce challenge next year.
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Aides to Illinois’ senior senator, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber, said yesterday they will report raising $2.4 million from April through June, giving the campaign $6 million on hand for Durbin’s 2008 re-election bid. The aides said they expect that total to lead all incumbent Senate Democrats whose seats are up next year.
Durbin has long advocated federally financed elections – and his quote on the fundraising totals today reflects a prevailing nervousness among incumbents of both parties: that a deep-pocketed opponent could spring up against him with millions of dollars in a personal fortune to spend.
“Until my campaign finance reform bill passes, I face a system where
multimillionaires face off against mere mortals,” Durbin said in a quote released by his campaign. “Our fundraising efforts are focused on making certain we have the resources to face all challengers.”
Well, all senate challengers anyway:
Durbin’s haul is about less than 10 percent of what Illinois’ junior senator, Democrat Barack Obama, raised last quarter. Then again, Durbin isn’t running for president.