Lange outraises GOP primary opponents

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Although it's just a fraction of what the incumbent has raised, Ben Lange thinks the $34,310 he has raised in campaign for the 1

^st

District U.S. House seat puts him where he needs to be.

Lange has raised more than his three opponents for the GOP nomination combined, raising nearly seven times more than his nearest primary opponent.

However, the Independence lawyer believes energy, not money, will be the key to it defeating Rep. Bruce Braley, a Waterloo Democrat, in November.

Turnout at Republican events has been strong this spring, he said, noting Republicans outnumbered Democrats at Scott County caucuses by nearly a three-to-one margin.

Voter frustration with the federal government is energizing campaigns across the country and the 1

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District, which sweeps across Eastern Iowa from Cedar Falls to the Quad Cities, is no exception,

“People are distrustful of Congress and frustrated with its policies,” Lange said Monday.

Tea Party activities are the “personification of that frustration,” he said.

“That frustration will propel them to act all the way through November,” he said.

For the time being, Lange, 31, is concentrating on the June 8 primary. The East Buchanan ighHigh School graduate, who moved his family back to Eastern Iowa after working as a congressional aide, faces Mike LaCoste of Waterloo, James Budde of Bellevue and Will Johnson of Dubuque for the nomination.

Lange raised $34,310, according to Federal Election Commission reports, and has $27,713 cash on hand. Budde reported raising $4,935 with $1,791 cash on hand. LaCoste and Johnson have not filed FEC reports, which are required if a candidate raises or spends $5,000.

Braley, also an attorney, has dwarfed the Republicans' fundraising efforts. His FEC report shows he's raised $865,589 and has $623,736 on hand. He has $49,180 in campaign debt compared to Lange's $4,773.

Despite the disparity in campaign wealth, Lange believes he can compete with and defeat Braley should he get the GOP nomination.

“I like where we're at,” he said. “We know where he's at and where we need to be. People want change.”

The FEC reports may be found at www.fec.gov.

CANDIDATE NAME

NET RECEIPTS

NET DISB

CASH

DEBT

THROUGH

1st District

BRALEY, BRUCE L

$865,589

$529,640

$623,736

$49,180

3/31/2010

BUDDE, JAMES R

$4,935

$3,143

$1,791

$0

3/31/2010

LANGE, BENJAMIN MICHAEL

$34,310

$6,596

$27,713

$4,773

3/31/2010