The Badger Herald

NEWS

Dems endorse Lautenschlager

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by Dan Powell

Monday, September 11, 2006

A national Democratic organization pledged nearly $100,000 in support for incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, who will face Democratic challenger Kathleen Falk in Tuesday's primary election.

The Democratic Attorneys General Association gave Lautenschlager $21,560 directly and is spending another $75,000 on statewide radio advertisements, emphasizing Lautenschlager's record in office. The DAGA, made up of Democratic attorneys general around the country, focuses on electing Democrats to office, yet rarely endorses candidates in primary elections.

Greg Liefer, Lautenschlager's campaign manager, said he could not comment on the issue because the campaign is not familiar with the DAGA's activities. Yet Falk's campaign contended the DAGA is an "out-of-state special interest group."

Adam Collins, spokesperson for Falk's campaign, questioned the legality of the last-minute contribution, saying it violates Wisconsin's campaign finance laws. The contributions were made after the deadline for filing campaign finance reports, which would disclose the sources of the money. Those reports will now be filed after the primary.

According to the latest state campaign finance report — covering July 1 to Aug. 30 — Falk had raised more than $92,000 in that time, while Lautenschlager reported raising nearly $85,000.

But Collins referenced federal campaign finance reports that showed the DAGA received money from drug makers and oil companies. He added, though, he had no proof the money was transferred into the attorney general race.

Yet Eli Lewien, chair of the University of Wisconsin College Democrats, said contributions like the DAGA's do not guarantee victory in contentious elections, such as this attorney general race has become. The College Democrats will endorse whichever candidate wins the primary, Lewien added.

"This money will obviously help a candidate in a race as competitive as this," he said. "But I'm not certain it will give [Lautenschlager] the push she needs."

The Democratic winner will advance to the November general election to take on the winner of the Republican primary, either Paul Bucher or JB Van Hollen.