If Art Halvorson hopes to defeat Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Blair) in the upcoming Republican primary, he is not going to do so by outspending him.
According to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) report, Halvorson has only raised $152,604.92 in his efforts to capture the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania’s 9th congressional district. He has spent $80,206.28, leaving him with only $72,398.64 currently on hand.
Halvorson’s fundraising efforts can easily be called into question at this juncture. Of the $152,604.92 he has raised to date, $100,000 came from a loan to his campaign, meaning that outside donors have yet to match his contribution. In the last quarter of the year, he raised just under $8,700.
Considering the support that incumbent Rep. Shuster garners from his district — which includes Indiana and Altoona down to the West Virginia and Maryland border — it would seem that Halvorson’s financial constraints would inhibit his chances of electoral victory.
But the Tea Party challenger, who has criticized Shuster for not sticking to his alleged conservative values, is not fazed by the money discrepancy that exists between him and the incumbent.
“[Rep. Shuster’s] money is not able to overcome the fact that he’s not a conservative and he’s who he says he is,” Halvorson said. “Money can’t buy him love.”
Although better funding doesn’t equate to electoral victory, Shuster also possesses a substantial polling advantage over Halvorson. According to an October Harper Poll, Shuster had a 52 point lead over Halvorson at that time; a Gravis Marketing poll commissioned by the Halvorson campaign still had the incumbent ahead by 26 points.
Halvorson, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, has based his campaign on scaling back government intervention, supporting the rights of gun owners and pushing for pro-life legislation.
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4 Responses
Shuster, along with every other career politician, must be removed and replaced with patriotic and ethical public servants if we are to salvage what remains of this country.
Schooley may not have money, but he (unlike Halvorson) has lived in the district a long time and has plenty of grassroots appeal. Those helping him aren’t Shuster people, but his family. He’s everywhere, working his tail off.
I doubt he wins, but not because he’s been outworked.
what travis schooley has is about 12 cents in the bank and a small band of delusional followers, half of whom are probably really working for shuster to draw votes away from halverson.
The Gravis poll is a joke. Automated phone calls to registered voters. Halvorson paid them $1500 (the minimum charge) for this and the poll excluded Travis Schooley, who has a strong grassroots network. Halvorson won’t break 30%.