The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

October 20, 2012

Kelly, Eaton finances reported

Website details final disclosures

By Nick Hildebrand Herald News Editor/Weekends

3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT — The money race in the Third District congressional campaign remains lopsided, according to the final pre-election campaign finance reports filed by the candidates.  

The latest quarterly reports indicate U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly raised $239,845 and spent $324,411 between July 1 and Sept. 30, while Democratic challenger Missa Eaton raised $79,125 and spent $83,683.

Kelly, a Republican from Butler, has raised a little more than $1 million for his re-election bid so far. Eaton, of Sharon, pulled in just over $200,000 during the course of her campaign. Independent candidate Steve Porter didn’t file any reports, indicating his insurgent campaign hasn’t raised more than $5,000.

Kelly spent $725,085 in his quest for a second term and had $304,572 on hand. Eaton reported spending $193,069 and had $16,923 on hand.  

The website opensecrets.org serves as a clearinghouse for campaign finance data it collects from the Federal Elections Commission and a variety of other sources and breaks down contributions in a variety of ways. According to their analysis:

• Small individual contributions (less than $200) accounted for 7 percent of Kelly’s total and 28 percent of Eaton’s. Larger individual contributors gave Kelly 46 percent of his haul and Eaton 42 percent of hers.

• Political action committees donated 46 percent of Kelly’s total and 30 percent of Eaton’s.

• Kelly’s largest contributor was Transportation Equipment Supply Co., which gave the candidate $12,000. Rounding out the list of top five contributors to his campaign, all of which gave $10,000 or more, are defense contractor Honeywell International, American Bankers Association, Automotive Free International Trade PAC, and Desert Caucus, a pro-Israel political action committee.

• Eaton’s biggest contributor was the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, which donated $10,000. Other unions – Ironworkers, Communications Workers of America, United Autoworkers and United Steelworkers – round out her list of top five contributors, with each giving $5,000 or more.

• The top five “industries” contributing to Kelly’s campaign were the government, through politicians’ leadership PACs, automotive, retirees, manufacturing and insurance. Eaton’s top donors in this category were industrial and building trade unions, lawyers, retirees and entertainment, with “TV/movies/music” contributing $3,500.

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