Liberal Advocacy Groups and Friends in Congress Industry Give Big to Chris Murphy in 3Q

The complete third-quarter campaign finance reports of Democrat Chris Murphy and Republican Linda McMahon had not been posted on the Federal Election Commission website as of Wednesday night, thanks to the arcane rules of the Senate.

 But some portions of Murphy’s 3rd quarter report were available on the site and they show an influx of donations from political action committees.

Murphy, who is facing multi-millionaire Linda McMahon, got a big boost from liberal advocacy groups. The Human Rights Campaign PAC, which backs candidates that support gay rights, gave $4,000 to Murphy on Aug. 23. And in another sign of how important abortion-rights advocates view the race, NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Murphy two $5,000 donations in late July.

Murphy, a three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, also got significant help from fellow Democrats in Washington. Priority PAC, a political action committee affiliated with Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, gave Murphy $5,000 in early August.

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s PAC chipped in $2,500 in late August and Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico gave Murphy $2,500 through his PAC in late July.

Murphy raised nearly $3 million in the 3rd quarter.  McMahon’s 3rd quarter filing was not yet posted on the FEC site.