Aunt Norma's money machine in overdrive

A Democratic challenger for the 30th Senatorial District seat currently held by Republican incumbent Norma "Aunt Norma" Champion only emerged this week, but her campaign finance machinery has been clicking on all cylinders for quite a while.
Ms. Champion's campaign finance committee's January quarterly report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission shows her having $145,739.26 in the bank already, including $116,425 raised in the three-month period between Oct. 15 and January 15.
That puts the challenger, former State Representative Doug Harpool, in a hole right from the start.
Her donor list is a typical collection of Missouri GOP supporters, her fellow Senators, special interests, lobbyists, and Springfield bigwigs.
Among those contributing:
Kansas City Power & Light PAC, $600 (the maximum), Credit Union PAC $300; Realtors PAC, Columbia, $600; HBAM PAC, $400; PAC for Progressive Architecture, $600; Missouri State Chiropractors Association PAC, $600; Missouri Insurance Coalition PAC, $300; AMECPAC, $100; Blue Cross and Blue Shield PAC $600; Motor Carrier Public Affairs, $600; J. Scott Marrs (lobbyist) $150; Aaron Sachs and Associates $600; Harvey Tettlebaum (lobbyist) $100; The Flotron Organization (lobbying group) $250; Missouri Dental Hygienist PAC $300; MAFP PAC $400; Empire District Electric Company PAC $600; Apollo Group, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., $500; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri $600; Leadership Missouri PAC $300; Missouri Hospital Association St. Louis District PAC, $600; Missouri Cable PAC, $600; John Q. Hammons Company, $600; American Insurance Association Missouri PAC, $200; Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund, $600; Nodler Leadership PAC, $600; Missouri Dental PAC $600; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce $600.
In addition to the Nodler Leadership PAC contribution mentioned above, Ms. Champion received donations from the following Republican party committees or politicians' campaign committees:
Friends of Bob Dixon, $600; Shields for Pro Tem, $600; Republican Sixth District Congressional Committee, $600; Citizens for Dolan, $600; Goodman for Senate, $600; Chuck Gross for Pro Tem $600; 3rd Senatorial District Republican Committee $300; Stouffer for Senator $600; Citizens for Brad Lager $600.
Other contributors included Aaron Buerge, best known for his appearance on the ABC television series, "The Bachelor."