Bloomington Pantagraph - Erickson: When the dust settled last week, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford was the victor when it came to having the most money in his campaign account in his bid for the Republican gubernatorial primary election.With $1.3 million in his campaign account at the end of 2013, however, the Chenoa Republican’s money lead over Bruce Rauner may not last long in the countdown to March 18.As everyone knows, Rauner not only has millions of dollars in the pocket of his Carhartt outdoorswear, but he’s been able to raise massive amounts from his super-wealthy pals.The situation has left state Sens. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Bill Brady of Bloomington scrambling to pick up the spare nickels left in Rauner’s wake.But there is a new wrinkle in campaign finance laws that could play a significant role not only in the primary election, but possibly in the general election next November.Illinois currently has limits on contributions, which are designed to ensure big dollar donors aren’t contributing cash in hopes of getting something back in return.But, under the law, when a candidate gives his own campaign more than $250,000, those limits come off for all the candidates in that race.See on www.pantagraph.com
