The campaign cash floweth

We've been keeping an eye on the various campaign cash flows to candidates throughout the suburbs to try to figure out where the most contested races for the Statehouse will be in November.

More on that later, but it's become clear that after a slow summer of retail campaigning for candidates across the area, the money is starting to flow.

We'll get a clear picture of candidates' fundraising over the past three months soon, but as it is, they have to file with the Board of Elections anytime one of them takes in a donation over $1,000.

Those kinds of reports have picked up recently. We'll just offer once example here.

In the 31st Senate District in northern and central Lake County, Republican Joe Neal and Democrat Melinda Bush have both started to see some financial support come in, indicating this is likely to be among the suburbs' hottest races.

Since mid-September, Neal has seen more than $10,500 start to come in from various groups in chunks of $1,000 or more.

Bush, though, has seen far more - more than $170,000 since mid-November, including help from the Senate Democrats of nearly $147,000 in one day.

Much of the state's competitive action in the action is set to happen downstate, where Democrats are hoping to play defense - expensive defense - in as many as five races. But the early money in the suburbs shows the Neal vs. Bush race could draw attention, too.