With dueling Democrat and Republican September 12^th AG primaries coming up, things are really picking up.  Late last week campaign finance reports covering the first 6 months of 2006 rolled out for the four candidates (2 GOP and 2 Dem) candidates competing for their parties nominations.  Campaign totals below:

On the Republican side:

Former U.S. Attorney J.B. Van Hollen reported raising $668,000 with $417,254 cash on hand.  

Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher reported raising $384,111 with $85,397 cash on hand.

On the Democrat side:

Incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager raised $393,216 with $238,639 cash on hand

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk raised $631,906 with nearly $608,000 cash on hand

What’s the significance of the cash on hand at this stage?  We’ll tell you.  As Waukesha County DA Bucher's got the geographic base/name ID advantage coming out of that area, but relatively little cash on hand ($85,397) when compared to Van Hollen who is flush ($417,254) but doesn't have the base that Bucher does (Waukesha btw is a solid GOP stronghold).  Van Hollen can boost his name ID significantly in Bucher's backyard of the Waukesha/Milwaukee media market, which may help level things off.  They both come up even on base group endorsements, badges, prosecutors, etc, etc.  Van Hollen’s challenge appears to be this – he has to craft his message, and find the disqualifiers to knock down a proven vote getter in his home base.  This is a nasty race in the final stretch.

For the Falk vs. Lautenschlager fight it’s very similar.  Peg’s the incumbent AG with all of the trappings and profile that goes with it.  Falk, is the challenger with a real edge in cash to spend between now and the election – and a high profile problem for Lautenschlager that may impact peoples decision in the voting booth. 

Odds and ends on Wisconsin

Both GOP candidates have received endorsements from former governors.  Tommy Thompson endorsed J.B. Van Hollen, and former Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus endorsed Paul Bucher.

Kathleen Falk attacked Lautenschlager after she “…accepted $5,000 from the wife of a Pennsylvania attorney after her office referred his firm to the state Investment Board for class-action contract work, records show.”  You can read the full article here.