In another follow-up to my FightingDems post, this Chicago-Sun article looks into the campaign contributions for the candidates in the IL-06, including Tammy Duckworth, the vet who lost both of her legs in a Blackhawk incident in Iraq. Duckworth is running as a Democrat and so far just 3% of her campaign funds have come from inside her district. The other two Democratic candidates are closer to 30% in-district funds. The Republican, state Sen. Peter Roskam, is heads and tails above everyone in fundraising, with over $1 million in his coffers, over 1/3 of which is from in the district.

From the Sun-Times article on Duckworth's low in-district fundraising:

Democratic rivals and Republican leaders said that shows she is out of touch with the suburban residents she wants to represent.

Her side responds:

"You are looking inside the numbers, and I prefer to look at the bottom line," Weinberg said. "Tammy is in this race to win. She is the only Democrat who has shown she has what it takes to counter the strength of an insider like [GOP contender] Pete Roskam, who is tied to the right wing and well- connected to high-dollar contributors."

"Democrats need to keep our eyes on the goal: competing to win in November."

Duckworth's story is a powerful one. But these numbers make me think that she hasn't been able to connect inside her district - that they people she is moving are the Air America and DailyKos audience, not the people who she needs to have vote for her in the primaries.

N.B. The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Duckworth.