Ryan Challenger Bouyed by Fundraising Stats

In a release from his campaign Rob Zerban, Democratic challenger to 1st Congressional District against Representative Paul Ryan (R-Janesville), announced his strongest fundraising quarter of the 2012 cycle.

From Jan. 1, to March 31, 2012, the Zerban campaign reported they raised $326,000, for a total raised this cycle of $840,000. The campaign ends the quarter with $426,000 cash on hand. The campaign reported a fundraising increase of 50% from their 4th quarter report, and an increase in the donor base of 75%.

From that $326,000 raised, the campaign said $305,000 of it came from individual contributions, and $151,000 of that was raised in individual contributions under $200. .

In a comparison to previously unsuccessful campaigns, prior to the 2012 cycle, all of Paul Ryan’s Democratic challengers raised approximately $250,000 combined, $103,000 less than the Zerban campaign raised this quarter alone.

“I am overwhelmed by the continued support of people... They know we need leaders who listen to the people, not just the corporations, and who put their needs above Wall Street,” Zerban was quoted in the release.

 “As our campaign momentum continues to grow we will ensure we have the resources to let every voter in the 1st Congressional District know there is a clear choice this November – a choice between having a leader with real world experience and Wisconsin values and having a Washington insider continue to put the 1st Congressional District last.”

No independent polling data is available on this race, but Zerban earlier had indicated a poll by Democratic pollsters Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates showed him to be "well-positioned" to upset Ryan.