Is Roby Smith in political trouble, or do Republicans have virtually unlimited campaign dollars?

Is Roby Smith in political trouble, or do Republicans just have unlimited campaign dollars?

Judging from the mammoth amount of money incumbent State Senator Roby Smith has raised and spent on this year's election, either state Republican strategists think he's in trouble or the party of fiscal conservatism has few concerns when the spending helps retain its Senate majority in Des Moines.

In the latest campaign financial disclosures, Smith reported receiving a total of $427,000 in cash and in-kind contributions in his run for the District 47 Senate race against Democrat Marie Gleason.

A third of the total, $140,000, came as in-kind donations (political advertising including postcards and tv spots) paid for by the state Republican Party.

Among the cash donations ($287,000), the largest came from political action committees (PAC's) ranging from the Associated Builders & Contractors ($6,000), Hy-Vee Food Employees' ($5,000), Iowa Ophthalmology ($5,000), Iowa Medical ($4,000), Principal Life Insurance ($4,000) and Iowa Farm Bureau ($3,500).

The donation amounts came from his campaign's latest October 19 filing with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board for Senate District 47, which includes eastern Davenport and all of Bettendorf/Pleasant Valley and Riverdale.

His opponent Gleason reported raising nearly $50,000 (including $150 from this writer/voter), plus in-kind contributions of $56,000 for postcards and ads paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party.

CLICK HERE for Smith's latest campaign disclosure report.

CLICK HERE for Gleason's latest campaign disclosure report.