5-07-2008

Brian Peloza
Assistant Managing Editor

Nels Ackerson may be raising some eyebrows inside the Democratic Party.

In the most recent Federal Election Commission reports, Ackerson, a Democratic challenger for the U.S. Congressional District 4 seat, has raised more money than eight-term incumbent Republican Steve Buyer.

Ackerson had receipts of $308,603 through April 16; while Buyer had receipts of $301,131.

“No. 1, we’ve been working very hard, and I’ve been all over the district, meeting with a lot of people,” Ackerson said. “Second, there is just a desire to change. The message I’m carrying is of bipartisanship.

“I’m reaching out to Democrats, Republicans and Independents. That is resonating and people are contributing.”

Eighty-five percent of Ackerson’s contributions came from individual donations, while 78 percent of Buyer’s were from Political Action Committees.

“There’s nothing illegal or inappropriate about that,” Ackerson said of Buyer’s PAC donations, “but the money we get from small contributions from individuals means more to me.”

Ackerson was unopposed in Tuesday’s primary but greeted voters in all 12 counties that encompass the district. He spent a portion his afternoon talking to voters in Frankfort at Suncrest Elementary School.

Buyer easily defeated two opponents to earn his party’s nomination Tuesday night.

Twenty-seven challengers have outraised their incumbent opponents in U.S. Congressional races thus far, said Ackerson. He added 24 of those challengers were Democrats.

With his strong fundraising to date, Ackerson may be able to gain funds from the Democratic National Party.

“I hope so,” Ackerson said. “They have a lot of money, and they target the money to districts where they think there is a good chance of winning.

“I know they’re watching my district because they’ve told me that.”

Ackerson added that DNC Chairman Howard Dean “expressed a great deal of satisfaction with me” during a conversation the two had in Indianapolis this past weekend.

“We’ve raised 10 times more money than any candidate that has run against (Buyer) in the past has raised,” Ackerson said. “Ten times more, and we’re this early in the season.”

Ackerson said voters are tired of “partisanship bickering and attacks.”

“(Buyer’s) voting record is 100 percent in support of the Bush Administration,” Ackerson said. “My party won’t be right 100 percent of the time. I can’t imagine I would be voting 100 percent with a party representing people in California, Texas and Massachusetts.

“I think the people are ready for an independent voice, looks at the people and looks out for the best interest of the district.”

Maybe the biggest boost to Ackerson’s campaign has been the interest raised by the presidential primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Each candidate, and many of their surrogates, made numerous campaign stops in and near District 4 over the past month.

“It’s helped tremendously,” Ackerson said. “I’ve been at almost every event I can, which has been nearly all of them, in which a candidate or a member of their family has.”

Ackerson has had a few chances to meet the candidates, “but it’s been more important for me to talk to the people,” he said. “Just in the last week I’ve shook the hand of at least 3,000 people who didn’t come to see me, but they’re happy to meet someone they would like to be their congressman.”

Ackerson can’t predict the future of this campaign, but he was certain about one thing.

“I will be back (to Clinton County) often,” he said.