As next Tuesday's state Supreme Court election approaches, Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson is closing in on the Supreme Court campaign fundraising record, many of her funds coming from UW System employees.
Abrahamson's campaign raised $290,319 between Feb. 3 and March 23, 2009, bringing her fundraising total to over $1.3 million, according to the campaign finance report. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler holds the record of $1.4 million, raised for her 2007 election.
Jefferson County Judge Randy Koschnick, Abrahamson's opponent, raised over $70,000 in the same period and has raised $115,866 overall, according to Seamus Flaherty, campaign advisor for Koschnick.
Flaherty said in an e-mail Koschnick hopes to make up for the fundraising gap by getting out his message through grassroots efforts.
Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison professor of political science, said Koschnick suffers more from poor name-recognition than low campaign funding.
""The difficulty for Koschnick was getting enough visibility to raise public awareness of his campaign, and that was especially critical to him when facing a long-term, well-known incumbent,"" Franklin said.
Just over 170 people employed by the UW System, UW Law School and UW Hospital contributed $100 or more to Abrahamson since January 1 2008, according to campaign financial summaries on the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's website. No UW employee contributors were listed for Koschnick.
Keith Findley, a clinical professor at the UW-Madison Law School, donated $100 to Abrahamson's campaign. Findley said the chief justice is a fair-minded leader and one of the finest state Supreme Court justices in the country.
""We're very fortunate to have her in the state, and it would be a shame to lose one of our finest jurists,"" Findley said.
Franklin said it is no secret the university is liberal-leaning and would support the more ""liberal"" candidate.
""All of the research for 50 years has found that the academy, the academic profession, leans to the left and tends to contribute accordingly and vote accordingly.""
Abrahamson campaign manager Heather Colburn said the campaign is honored by the support of the university community.
""I think [Abrahamson is] a recognized figure on campus and has been for her entire career in Madison,"" Colburn said.
Flaherty said Abrahamson's long-term presence in Madison gives her ""home field"" advantage at UW-Madison. ""However, Judge Koschnick enjoys strong support here and in the rest of the state,"" he said.
