Story Created:
Jul 21, 2010 at 10:41 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 21, 2010 at 11:00 PM CDT
In the 8th District, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican, faces a surprisingly strong opponent in this November's general election.
Emerson's been in office for 14 years.
She's raised $1.4 million, and here's where some of that money's going:
-She paid a Virginia company more than $13,000 for polling;
-A Washington D.C. company got almost $17,000 to do fundraising;
-Emerson spent more than $8,000 with an Ohio company for campaign signs;
-She's paid $4,400 to two Missouri companies for consulting work.
Emerson still has more than $900,000 cash on hand for the general election.
Her opponent is Tommy Sowers, a former Army major from Rolla.
Sowers has raised a lot of money for a southern Missouri Democrat -- more than a million dollars, according to the latest campaign finance reports analyzed by KSPR NEWS.
Here's how he's spending it:
-Sowers paid a Washington D.C. company nearly $11,000 for "digital communications services";
-A New York company got more than $26,000 to conduct polling;
-And Sowers is relying on the internet to get his message out -- he's already spent nearly $5,000 on Facebook ads and another $2,000 for ads on Google.
Sowers has more than $600,000 cash on hand for this fall's campaign.
There's more to the Emerson-Sowers race than the millions being raised and spent.
There's the celebrity factor to consider.
Jo Ann Emerson has the advantage when it comes to local movers and shakers.
Among her contributors:
-Silver Dollar City's Pete Herschend
-Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley
-Former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth
-City Utilities General Manager John Twitty
But Tommy Sowers has the corner on national celebrities. Among his contributors:
-Seth Meyers from "Saturday Night Live"
-That show's executive producer, Lorne Michaels
-Former Tears for Fears leader Curt Smith
-Bradley Whitford, actor who played the deputy chief of staff on The West Wing
-Robert Shaye, CEO of New Line Cinema
Read the full campaign finance reports for yourself.
Click here to find Tommy Sowers' report.
Click here for Jo Ann Emerson's report.
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