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Hard to believe, but Republican Bill Hudak has actually raised more money than the incumbent congressman in the 2010 election cycle.
According to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, as of Sept. 30 Congressman John Tierney’s campaign had reported raising $153,470 towards his re-election; while Hudak, a Boxford lawyer who’s working the hustings harder than any Republican since Peter Torikildsen, reported contributions of $153,881.
The difference is only slightly more than $400, but still significant considering Hudak’s not even the GOP nominee yet (as Tierney pointed out in refusing to debate him on the health-care issue recently).
Of course, Tierney has more than $1.3 million in the bank compared to Hudak’s $106,433.
Forty percent of the money Tierney raised in the current cycle came from political action committees (PACs). Seventy percent of Hudak’s money ($108,354) came out of his own pocket.
Still, Hudak shows every indication of being a tenacious opponent, and sources say the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee may be taking a second look at the race which was once considered unwinnable.
Tierney, meanwhile, made news over the weekend endorsing colleague Michael Capuano of Somerville in the special election for the late Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat and backing Sen. John Kerry in his effort to force a presidential runoff in Afghanistan before there’s a commitment of more U.S. troops to the region.