Ha, ha -- too funny. I missed this article:
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_120002445.html?keyword=topstory Gloucester: O'Reilly loans $300K to his campaign vs. Kerry
By Edward Mason
Staff writer
BOSTON — Gloucester Democrat Edward O'Reilly loaned his U.S. Senate campaign $300,000 in the first three months of 2008, as he tries to unseat U.S. Sen. John Kerry.
With the loan, O'Reilly, a former Gloucester School Committee chairman and city councilor, has lent his Senate campaign $383,000 while taking in $48,000 from individual donations.
The loan was disclosed in a document O'Reilly filed recently with the Federal Election Commission. O'Reilly said he's intentionally forsaken fundraising in the early stages of the campaign.
"I had to make a choice of whether to use my own money or lock myself in a room and not meet people," O'Reilly said.
O'Reilly, an attorney, said he expects it will cost as much as $2 million to run a credible campaign against Kerry, and may loan his campaign a total of $500,000. He has also opened up a $400,000 line of credit he could tap.
Overall, O'Reilly closed the first quarter, which ended March 31, with $290,000 in cash on hand. That compares with Kerry, his Democratic rival, who reported having $9.2 million. The wide gap doesn't unnerve O'Reilly, who sees his campaign as a run against the establishment.
"I would have to say this challenge is also a challenge to the status quo on money," O'Reilly said. "Money should not buy a Senate seat."
Apparently, he didn't notice the irony of his statement. According to Elias, the only support he is really getting is from Clinton activist supporters in MA pissed off at Kerry for endorsing Obama. He thinks they should re-think that. Mass linked to it a few days ago, but in case anyone missed it, it's worth reading (I can't link to the archive but just scroll down to April 30th).
http://www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/