Black loans campaign nearly $200,000

Margaret McGurk reports:

Democrat Steve Black geared up for the closing days of the 2nd District Congressional primary race on on Friday by kicking in $195,000 to his own campaign war chest,

The cash infusion puts his total well over a half-million dollars.

The fund ended 2007 with $386,625, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Black's campaign issued a statement Monday saying the contribution would make up for time lost to family responsibilities: "Since the first of the year, Steve’s father was very sick, and passed away in early February. ... While he still campaigned and fundraised over the course of that difficult time, family, not fundraising, was his highest priority."

His Democratic opponent, Victoria Wulsin, reported a total of $490,687 at year-end.

“Just like Jean Schmidt in 2006, Steve Black is using his own money to make up for an inability to connect with the voters,” said Wulsin. “Instead of telling the voters what he’ll do, he’s using Karl Rove’s playbook to smear my name and his family fortune to pay the bill.”

Republican incumbent Rep. Jean Schmidt endedthe year with $379,691. Her GOP opponent Tom Brinkman showed only about $4,800.

All candidates will be required to file updates on recent fundraising in pre-primary reports due on Feb. 21.