Candidates for the 2010 election season finalized reports Monday detailing their campaign finances as of December 2009.
Former Congressman Mark Neumann, one of two major Republican candidates for governor, has more than $974,000 on hand going into 2010. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, the other major Republican in the race, has nearly $2 million on hand, according to a statement.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the leading Democrat in the gubernatorial race, has $1.5 million on hand, according to a statement.
""I suspect some of the others may be at peaks at this point, while we're gaining momentum daily and expect to overtake them,"" Neumann said.
Neumann said getting information out about his campaign platform is more important than finances.
""The goal is to communicate the message that we have the ability to bring jobs back to the state of Wisconsin,"" he said.
Jay Heck, director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, a nonpartisan campaign finance reform group, said the dynamics of state campaigns may shift after the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reduced restrictions on corporations' campaign contributions.
Heck estimated that spending in the gubernatorial race could top $50 million, beating the current record of $35 million spent in 2006.
Although increased funding may benefit candidates in some respects, he said, this change could also present challenges.
""There will be more outside spending, and that will drown out the message the candidates themselves are trying to get out,"" Heck said.
Neumann said the majority of his campaign contributions come from small donations, and he said he hopes corporations do not take advantage of the Supreme Court decision.
""[I hope] special interest groups stay out of the state of Wisconsin altogether and let us run our campaign,"" he said.
