Darrow raised $1.38 million last year for Senate race

Greater Milwaukee Today ^ | January 25, 2004 | Associated Press

[JohnnyZ]

MADISON - Millionaire car salesman Russ Darrow raised $1.38 million last year for his U.S. Senate bid, including $475,000 in the fourth quarter alone, according to campaign finance reports Darrow released Saturday. Darrow got $442,257 in contributions from individuals between October and the end of the year, according to the reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

He took $20,000 from political action committees and gave himself $12,843. He had $1.12 million in the bank at the end of the year.

Darrow is one of a trio of Republican candidates vying to challenge incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold in November. He faces fellow millionaire Tim Michels of Oconomowoc, part-owner and vice president of Michels Corp., a utility construction company, and state Sen. Bob Welch of Redgranite in the GOP primary.

Michels and Darrow have been locked in a major-league money hunt.

Fourth-quarter reports aren’t due until Jan. 31, but Michels’ campaign issued an estimate earlier this month saying he raised $1.05 million, including $500,000 he gave himself.

Including the fourth quarter, Darrow loaned himself $468,348 last year, his reports show.

Darrow campaign manager Eric Schutt said Darrow isn’t worried about Michels’ money.

‘‘Our goal, our focus is Russ Feingold,’’ Schutt said. ‘‘The more resources you have, the better chance you have at communicating your message efficiently and effectively.’’

Michels campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said the race will turn on issues, not money. Still, it’s nice to have a sizable bankroll against an incumbent, he said.

‘‘You’re running against a 12-year incumbent who, you know, is raising millions of dollars,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re going to have to compete with that.’’

Feingold has yet to file his financial reports. His campaign declined comment Saturday.

Welch didn’t immediately return a message The Associated Press left at his home Saturday. A message the AP left at his campaign headquarters also was not returned.

Darrow, 63, of West Bend, is chairman and chief executive officer of the Russ Darrow Group Inc., a holding company that owns 19 automobile dealerships, 29 franchises and a leasing company.

Schutt said 95 percent of Darrow’s 1,749 fourth-quarter donors are from Wisconsin and 71 percent contributed $100 or less.

‘‘That demonstrates the message is resonating and people are tired of Russ Feingold,’’ he said.

Darrow’s reports also show he returned $1,650 in individual contributions. He had to give that money back because the donors already had exceeded contribution limits, Schutt said.

Schutt wasn’t sure who the contributors were.