Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle received more than $200,000 in campaign funds from out-of-state donors, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign announced Wednesday.
The donations are part of a composite $1.38 million in campaign acquisitions raised in the first five months of this year for Doyle's 2006 gubernatorial reelection campaign. This total also includes $2,500 in contributions obtained illegally, WDC, a campaign finance watchdog, found.
Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said it is preferable to see candidates obtain funding from in-state sources.
"I'm not particularly surprised that we're seeing these kinds of totals from out of state because with his goal of $10 to $13 million [in campaign funds], you're going to have to go outside of Wisconsin," said. "It's always better if candidates limit their spending and if that money can come from in-state because those are the people that elect you and those are the people whose interests you should be serving."
When Doyle ran for governor in 2002, he campaigned as a reformer, which Heck lamented as a contradiction to his current fundraising strategy.
"Doyle is the biggest fundraiser of any governor that we've ever had," Heck said. "He is the most prolific fundraiser in state history. Doyle's aides have bragged that their goal is to raise between $10 [million] and $13 million for the 2006 elections."
Mark Graul, campaign manager for U.S. Congressman Mark Green, R-Wis., said WDC's report shows Doyle "has put Wisconsin state government up for sale." Green is the leading candidate to challenge Doyle in the 2006 gubernatorial election.
"Jim Doyle's brand of politics has been an embarrassment to the state of Wisconsin," Graul said. "He's making it clear that there's a toll both at the front steps of the Capitol and in order to do business with Jim Doyle's government."
Graul cited that Doyle gave state contracts to businesses that supported his campaign. Doyle has been "handing out favors" to people who contribute to his campaign, Graul added.
WDC also reported Frank Daily, a Milwaukee attorney, has contributed $12,500 since 2003, thus exceeding the donation limit. Under law, politicians can only receive up to $10,000 from one donor in one election cycle. Daily's contribution is considered illegal and will have to be returned to avoid prosecution.
Joe Wineke, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said the Doyle campaign's acceptance of the excess donations was a mere oversight and can happen on occasion.
"Candidates don't necessarily know if donors have exceeded their campaign contribution limit," Wineke said. "The governor's campaign heard about this mistake, and they made moves [Wednesday] to return the money."
As for the amount of out-of-state fundraising collected, Wineke said the vast majority of Doyle's campaign funds come from within Wisconsin. Money received from out-of-state entities makes up about 14 percent of contributions the Doyle campaign received from January to June of 2005.
"Jim Doyle is a national leader in stem-cell research, reproductive rights [and] the issue of the right to vote," Wineke said. "And it's not a shock that Democrats across the country would support him — that's not exactly something I would lose sleep over."
Green himself is guilty of questionable campaign finance practices, Wineke alleged.
"Mark Green transferred $1.3 million from his federal account and my guess is 80 percent of that didn't come from Wisconsin," he said.
Graul strongly denied the allegation, although he did admit Green has received some out-of-state donations.
"Joe Wineke is a big fat liar," Graul said in reference to the 80 percent figure. "Joe Wineke is Jim Doyle's No. 1 attack dog, and they don't deal in the truth. They only deal in lies because they don't have anything good to say about the governor."
