WASHINGTON – Five weeks before Republican voters will decide whether they want Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, to return to Congress for another term, he had $262,706 on hand to make his case.

His main opponent for the May 4 primary, Bob Thomas, had $11,951 in the bank March 31 after spending nearly $89,000 on TV and radio commercials. Thomas raised $130,000, including $121,000 he gave or loaned the campaign.

In the first three months of this year, Souder raised $91,525 from PACs and $63,305 from individuals. Including last year, he has received $242,565 from PACs and $242,777 from individuals.

To raise money for this election, Souder scheduled at least 29 fundraisers in Washington for lobbying firms and their corporate clients. Most invitations ask for $1,000 donations from each political action committee and $500 from individuals, according to a government watchdog organization that asks recipients of the fundraising requests to send in copies of the invitations.

One invitation sent by the firm Souder hired to raise money for his campaign told potential donors that “a self-funder with deep pockets entered the primary yesterday to take on Congressman Mark Souder.”

PACs may give a candidate up to $5,000 for the primary and $5,000 for the November election. Individual limits are $2,400 per election. Candidates are required to file periodic reports listing their donors who gave at least $200 and the campaign’s expenses.

According to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission, from January through March Souder received $10,000 from the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons and $5,000 apiece from Honeywell International (for a total of $10,000 since Jan. 1, 2009) and the Indiana Farm Bureau; and $3,000 apiece from B & D Sagamore ($4,000) and BAE ($7,000).

He received $2,500 apiece from LNE Group ($4,500), Associated Builders and Contractors ($5,000), Ford Motor Co., National Apartment Association and National Beer Wholesalers Association; $2,000 from Eli Lilly ($3,000), American Council Of Engineering Companies ($4,000), Indiana Rural Electric Cooperative; Johnson & Johnson ($5,000), Koch Industries ($4,500), American College of Emergency Physicians ($3,000) and Sallie Mae ($7,000).

He received $1,950 from the National Rifle Association ($4,950); $1,500 apiece from ATT ($6,500) and the National Association of Home Builders ($1,500); and $1,100 from American Dental Association ($7,500).

He received $1,000 apiece from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, ITT Corp. ($6,000), Deloitte and Touche, International Association of Firefighters ($2,000), Raytheon ($6,000), Rolls-Royce North America ($2,000), American Association of Clinical Urologists, National Telecommunications Cooperative, American Maritime Officers ($3,000), Nisource Inc. ($4,000), Zimmer ($3,000), Syngenta Corp. ($2,000), Exxon Mobil, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American Hotel and Lodging Association, Boeing ($6,000), Comcast Corp. ($2,000), General Electric, Investment Company Institute ($2,000), Louis Dreyfus Corp. ($2,000), Medtronic Medical Technology ($2,000), National Association of Health Underwriters ($2,000), National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, Nelnet, American Physical Therapy Association ($2,500), Physician Hospitals Of America ($3,000), PricewaterhousCoopers; $750 from American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists; and $500 from Cummins Inc.

He received $2,400 apiece from William Haldewang of Syracuse, owner of Indian Coated Fabrics ($4,400) and Rhonda Hanning,

manager of Bill's Bistro Inc.; and $1,500 from Tobias Buck of

Warsaw, president of Paragon Medical Inc.($1,750) and Richard Evans, executive with Evans Toyota ($2,400).

He received $1,400 from Harold Jewett, chief executive officer of Auto-Collision Services ($2,400); and $1,250 from Matt Miller of Bremen, president of Newmar Corp. ($1,800).

Souder received $1,000 apiece from Andrew Baer of Middlebury, vice president of sales for K-Z RV Inc.; Derald Bontrager of Middlebury, owner of Jayco Inc. ($1,200); Wilbur Bontrager

of Middlebury, chief executive officer of Jayco Inc. ($2,000); retiree Robert J. Deputy of Elkhart; William Fenech of Elkhart, president of Damon Motor Coach; Gregg Fore of Middlebury, President of Dicor Corp. ($1,050); attorney Cassidy C. Fritz of Elkhart; Douglas Gaeddert of Elkhart, general manager of Forest River Inc.; Donald Gunden of Goshen, Indiana division general manager of Forest River Inc. ($4,100); David Haist of Grabill, executive vice president of Do It Best Corp. ($3,000); Marna Johnson, co-owner of Leisure Lawn ($1,500); Michael Kubacki of Syracuse, president of Lake City Bank; Donald Mossey of Elkhart, Indiana self-employed ($1,850); R. Neal Myers of Middlebury, president of Max Myers Motors; Richard Niblock of Bristol, owner of Niblock Excavating; John Regan of Middlebury, chairman of Fabric Services; G.N. Schahet of Indianapolis, manager and developer of Schahet Hotels ($2,000); Roger H. Schrock of Goshen, veterinarian and farmer; and David Weed of Bristol, owner of Robert Weed Plywood Corp. ($1,500).

He received $500 apiece from Carl C. Dalstrom of Carmel, chief executive officer of USA Funds ($750); L. Craig Fulmer of Elkhart, executive with Heritage Group ($700); retiree Thomas Herendeen ($2,400); Brian Inniger of Goshen, vice president of Rieth-Riley Contruction Co. ($6,000); retiree Edward Kelker; Chuck Lamb of Middlebury, information not provided; Dr. R.V. Mantravadi ($2,100); Joseph Pierce of LaGrange, banker with Farmers State Banks; homemaker Carol Popp; Jim Richards of McLean, Va., vice president of Cornerstone, Government Affairs ($1,000); Richard Shura of New Haven, executive with Central States Enterprises Inc.; Ronald Stoller, executive with Stoller's Inc. ($1,400); and Dr. Dennis Zent of Angola ($1,350).

Souder spent $57,807 in the first three months of the year, including $23,000 on fundraising, and money for staff, rent, phones and other supplies.

The first-quarter reports for two other candidates in the Republican primary, Phil Troyer and Greg Dickman, are not on file with the FEC.

sylviasmith@jg.net