CHEYENNE - U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin's re-election campaign bared its teeth Friday after a quarterly fundraising report revealed that Democratic challenger Gary Trauner raised slightly more than the GOP incumbent.

Cubin campaign spokesman Eric Cullen issued a news release criticizing the source of Trauner's campaign dollars - such as his "East Coast friends" and political action committees whose values, Cullen said, don't jibe with Wyoming's.

"A quick glance through (Trauner's) campaign receipts reveals him as what he is: a Democrat anything but palatable to Wyoming voters," Cullen said.

Trauner, in response, noted that a high percentage to Cubin's campaign donations originated from nonresident sources. He also pointed out that he raised more money from inside Wyoming than did Cubin.

"What she's doing is she's taking money from out-of-state PACs with one hand while wagging her finger at me with another," Trauner said. "And that's exactly why we need change for Wyoming and change for Washington, D.C., because it's all about distraction and personal attacks and not the issues that matter to folks."

Trauner, a businessman who lives in Wilson, outpaced the six-term incumbent in the latest fundraising cycle - between April 1 and June 30 - by about $24,000, according to records posted by the Federal Election Commission.

Trauner raised about $170,684, much of it from individuals and political groups outside Wyoming.

Cubin's campaign generated $146,615 during the same period, also relying heavily on nonresident donors. However, Cubin's total war chest of about $556,628 still outstrips the $382,564 that Trauner has raised.

The financial summary for Republican challenger Bill Winney was not among the campaign records Friday. Spokesman Dave Featherly said technical problems may have contributed to the delay.

Cullen said he is "very comfortable" with Cubin's fundraising figures and with her standing in the race.

"Quite frankly, Casper is never going to outspend Manhattan," Cullen said, referring to Trauner's connections to New York City, where he went to college.

In the news release, Cullen highlighted Trauner contributions from PACs that received failing grades from anti-abortion and gun groups. He also noted that Trauner relied heavily on money from trial lawyers and received few Wyoming contributions outside Teton County.

"Mr. Trauner may take pains to present himself as something other than a Howard Dean-Nancy Pelosi-style liberal Democrat, but his financial associations suggest otherwise," Cullen said.

Trauner responded, saying: "It's hard to believe that my opponent's spokesman is doing it again. They're calling people names and focusing on deception and attack instead of her record and issues that matter to people in Wyoming."

Trauner received roughly $135,148 from individual donors this quarter and about $35,500 from PACs. Cubin received about $46,862 from individuals and about $99,753 from PACs.

Reach capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at jared.miller@casperstartribune.net.