5th District Congressional Candidate Reports Nearly $285,000 Cash On Hand at Year-End and Raises Two to Three Times the Other Challenger Candidates in the 4th Quarter

(Shelbyville, IN)—Yesterday, Republican Luke Messer’s campaign for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District filed its year end Federal Election Commission finance report announcing that Messer raised more than $430,000 for the year to date including $102,262 in the most recent quarter. "Over the past ten months, we’ve been working to build a grassroots campaign with the financial strength necessary to defeat an incumbent Congressman,” said Messer. “Today, we took another big step toward that goal. From North Manchester to Greenfield, Franklin to Huntington, Hoosier Republicans are ready to send their own message of reform to Washington.”

To date, Messer has raised a total of $434,704 and has $284,271 cash on hand. From the start, Messer has consistently outraised the other challenger candidates to Congressman Dan Burton, raising two to three times the other challengers in the 4th Quarter of 2009 alone. In addition, Messer has kept pace with Congressman Burton’s fundraising since kicking off his campaign in April – Messer raised $434,704 compared to Burton’s $472,527 during that period.

“From the start, we knew this wouldn’t be easy,” said Messer. “But, with the endorsements of over 600 grassroots activists, and party and elected officials, over 800 contributors and nearly 5,000 friends and supporters on Facebook, we are building one of the strongest primary challenger campaigns in state history.” Messer has received contributions from 812 individuals, including contributions from each of the eleven counties in the 5th District.

Candidate 4th Quarter Contributions Current Cash-on-Hand Total 2009 Contributions

Luke Messer $102,262 $284,271 $434,704
 
Dan Burton $155,147 $487,133 $573,431
 
John McGoff $55,070 $77,420 $162,700
 
Brose McVey $32,436 $62,177 $185,510
 
Mike Murphy $35,870 $173,925 $243,500

“We are in great position to win this race, but we must keep building momentum as we enter the final 90 days,” continued Messer. “It will take a team effort to get this done, and that is happening all across our country. From Tea Party protests to spirited townhalls, voters are coming together to make their voices heard. People are tired of business as usual in Washington and politicians who talk a good game, but don’t deliver. They want real leadership, a focus on jobs and the economy - and reform.” To date, Messer is the only candidate to officially file his 5th District candidacy with the State Election Division. The filing period runs from January 20th to February 19th.

Messer has received contributions from the following communities within the 5th District: Carmel, Carthage, Cicero, Fairland, Fishers, Fortville, Franklin, Fountaintown, Greenfield, Greenwood, Huntington, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Marion, McCordsville, Morristown, Needham, New Palestine, Noblesville, North Manchester, Peru, Saint Paul, Shelbyville, Sheridan, Wabash, Waldron, Westfield, Whiteland, and Windfall. Messer has also received contributions from these additional Indiana cities and towns: Anderson, Avilla, Avon, Bluffton, Brownsburg, Chandler, Chesterton, Claypool, Colburn, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Delphi, Evansville, Francesville, Ft. Wayne, Gary, Granger, Greensburg, Jeffersonville, Kentland, Lafayette, Lebanon, Logansport, Martinsville, Merrillville, Milroy, Mishawaka, Muncie, Munster, New Castle, North Vernon, Pierceton, Pittsboro, Plainfield, Portage, Rensselaer, Rosedale, Rushville, Santa Claus, Speedway, South Bend, Tell City, Terre Haute, Valparaiso, West Lafayette, Westport, Westville, Winona Lake, Yorktown, and Zionsville.