Blago's money machine sputters

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's unprecedented fundraising operation, under heavy investigation from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, finally broke down in 2007, newly filed reports show.

For the first time since he became a candidate for Governor in 2001, Rod's yearly fundraising total was dramatically diminished:

2007 -- $2,428,624
2006 -- $11,431,592
2005 -- $6,567,298
2004 -- $5,911,658
2003 -- $5,298,717
2002 -- $19,150,973

So, fundraising is tanking. And, legal defense bills are rising. Rod incurred $965,352 in charges from defense lawyers last year to defend against Fitzerald's probe. That means for every dollar a donor gave Rod, 39.7 cents went to Jim Thompson's law firm.

Rod's 40-cent corruption tax is driving customers away.

Technorati Tags: 2008 election, corruption, Illinois, Rod Blagojevich