Hostettler Disappoints With Poor 1st Q Fundraising Showing

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Ex-Rep. John Hostettler (R) posted a disappointing 1st Q fundraising total, raising a paltry $37K and finishing the Q with just under $10K CoH, according to his FEC report. Hostettler has a history of poor fundraising, as he raised just over $600K during the '08 cycle for his tough re-election battle against Brad Ellsworth (D), who raised $1.7M.

Hostettler is holding a 24 hour "money blitz" on Thursday, as he seeks to make up ground in the money race.

Hostettler's numbers mean he will have trouble keeping pace with state Sen. Marlin Stutzman (R), who raised just over $78K in the 1stQ, and Wachovia Securities branch mgr. Don Bates (R), who are both up on TV with ads seeking to boost their name ID during the final stretch of the GOP race. Stutzman's ad went up yesterday, while Bates went up today with a spot in which he says, in an indirect shot at ex-Sen Dan Coats (R), "Hoosiers are ready for fresh leadership."

Meanwhile Coats, who was the GOP leader in 1stQ fundraising with an underwhelming $379K, has been forced to defend his right flank lately, as he has come under fire from Stutzman and Hostettler for his vote to confirm Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg to SCOTUS.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/04/hostettler_disa.php