His hordes of hired foot soldiers descended on the district in October 2006 and they ran ads 24/7 in the Pittsburgh television market attacking Melissa Hart, a likable and fairly moderate congresswoman, 1 of 6 districts in the Pittsburgh regional market.
There is no way Altmeier could have afforded that kind of media saturation (1/6th effective) on his own.
A winning powerball ticket won't buy you a senator in a big state like Illinois. Maybe a congressperson or a senator in a small market state like Montana.