Luksik has raised almost $300K, spent most of it

In her underdog campaign to win the the Republican nomination for Senate, conservative activist Peg Luksik has brought in almost $300,000 during the cycle, sending most of it right back out the door, according to recent campaign finance data.

Luksik, who has a loyal following among anti-abortion activists, is not expected to seriously challenge Pat Toomey now that so much of the GOP establishment is lining up behind the former congressman. But she has surprised party insiders before, like when she won 45 percent of the vote against the party-backed candidate for governor in 1990.

Luksik raised more than $216,000 during the third quarter. She spent more than $190,000 of it, mostly on direct-mail expenses. She finished the quarter with about $48,000 on hand, but the campaign also has about $22,000 in outstanding debt, including $6,000 from loans made by the candidate.

Toomey has raised more than $3 million during the cycle, and has about $1.8 million on hand.