Diamond Jim

When Kathy at Stepping Right Up! had a link to the Wisconsin Election Board's website, I, naturally, had to snoop it out. I looked at the campaign donations for Jim Doyle, then I looked at the "campaign expenditures". The more I read, the more curious I got. Yes, there were a lot of expenses in the state of Wisconsin, but what got my attention were the expenses for "campaign meetings" outside the state. I'm aware that politicians raise money elsewhere, but I wonder why. If you can't raise money for your campaign within the state for the office you are running, then perhaps, you shouldn't say you represent the people OF that state. Here's what I found (January - June, 2006): California - $4,487.81 New York - $5,029.35 Illinois - $3,556.55 Washington, DC - $1,309.79 Arizona - $4,076.71 Add the expenses for "flight costs" of $8,28o.00 and you get a total of $27,098.32 in a six month period for "campaign" meetings, lodging and flights. (I'm assuming that my husband's "adding machine" works.) My question: Do Jim Doyle's contributors know he's spending their money at the Biltmore Resort in Arizona? Not to mention the Loew's in California, or the Hilton in New York. Must be nice!