MINNEAPOLIS – A $250 contribution to Democratic congressional candidate Teresa Daly’s campaign from the owner of a store specializing in “erotic and risque gifts” was sent back Thursday, her campaign manager said.
The discovery came amid Daly television ads suggesting that children are “barraged with porn.”
Daly, a Burnsville City Council member, is running against GOP U.S. Rep. John Kline in the 2nd District, which runs across the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities area and some rural areas to the south.
The Sept. 14 contribution was from Colleen Bertino, owner of Minnesota-based Fantasy House Inc., which on its Web site advertises “naughty novelties,” “liquid sensations,” and “leather and bondage.”
Daly campaign manager Darin Brotin said the campaign hadn’t realized who the contribution was from until a reporter called asking about it Thursday.
“We returned the contribution,” Brotin said. “We sent it back today.”
He said keeping the money would be inconsistent with what she stands for.
“We’ve been talking about cracking down on child pornography,” he said.
Kline campaign spokesman Steve Messick said the contribution was “another example of Teresa Daly’s double standards.”
“At the same time she has been running ads saying she will be tough on pornography, Teresa Daly has been taking hundreds of dollars from Burnsville’s largest pornographer,” he said.
Thursday was the deadline for congressional candidates to file their final disclosure reports before the Nov. 2 election with the Federal Elections Commission. The reports cover new donations and spending from Oct. 1-13, as well as total contributions, spending and cash on hand through the election cycle.
Kline, who’s seeking a second term, reported that he had raised $1,440,416 during the election cycle, including $61,816 from Oct. 1-13. He had spent $1,086,765 as of Oct. 13, and had $455,971 in cash on hand.
Kline’s $10,000 donors included the American Medical Association, the Freshmen Political Action Committee, the (automobile) Dealers Election Action Committee, Sen. Norm Coleman’s NorthStar Leadership PAC and the Promoting Republicans You Can Elect PAC.
Daly reported that she had raised $932,795 since entering the race, including $130,909 in the first 13 days of October. She had spent $422,569 through the campaign cycle and had $510,911 left in the bank at the end of the reporting period.
Major contributions listed on Daly’s filing included $65,555 from individual donors funneled into her campaign by the liberal MoveOn PAC, and $10,000 from the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund.
Donations and spending are even higher in the 6th District race, where GOP U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy is facing a tough challenge from Democrat Patty Wetterling. The latest disclosure forms show he had much more money in the bank as of Oct. 13 than she did.
Kennedy reported net contributions of $2,141,628, including $150,838 from Oct. 1-13. His campaign had spent $1,619,965 and had $528,010 on hand at the close of the reporting period.
The Automotive Free International Trade PAC gave Kennedy $10,000, the Republican National Committee had given him $9,500, and the Promoting Republicans You Can Elect PAC had given him $8,904.
Wetterling had raised a total of $1,444,411, including $164,078 in the first 13 days of the month, spent $1,329,094 and had $116,842 left in the bank.
EMILY’s List, which supports female candidates who support abortion rights, directed $15,208 in contributions by individuals to her campaign. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee served as a conduit for $18,100 in contributions. The Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund has given Wetterling $10,000. She also got $10,000 from the Laborers Political League and the Machinists Non Partisan Political League.