Garcia surpasses Emanuel in late campaign donations

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Regardless of what happens at the polls, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will easily win the cash war against Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. The incumbent mayor has raised millions. But in the last battle for donors, Garcia wins.

Since April 1, state election records show that 11th hour donations from organized labor have given the underdog Garcia a sizable infusion of money and it also reveals the intense interest that has been stirred up by the city's first run-off mayoral election.

Garcia's largest donor is the Service Employees International Union, with more than $180,000 in several separate contributions.

The Chicago Teachers Union, which backed Garcia after its president Karen Lewis had to drop out as a mayoral contender due to a brain tumor, has contributed nearly $129,000 since April 1.

The past six days organized labor has kicked in more than $384,000 to Garcia's campaign.

That put his total intake since April 1 at $520,000 according to state election records.

Emanuel's campaign has taken in 384,000 during the same period, and from far different sources.

The incumbent mayor received a $100,000 contribution a Silicon Valley company founded by the widow of Apple patriarch Steve Jobs.

Mayor Emanuel also has received 11th hour donations from Gibson's Steakhouse, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

This is perhaps the oddest single donor: $1,000 dollars to Chuy Garcia from Circus Hermanos Vazquez, a traveling clown and acrobatic show based in Texas.