Wiviott loans his campaign another $300,000

Third Congressional District Democratic candidate Don Wiviott loaned his campaign another $300,000 on Monday, bringing the total he’s given his campaign to $890,000.

It’s a sizable amount of money for a candidate in New Mexico to give to his own campaign. Though such self-financing is rare, it’s not unheard of: For example, in 1998, when Democrat Phil Maloof unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, he gave his own campaign almost $6.5 million, according to FEC records.

Wiviott had previously topped $350,000 in personal contributions and triggered the Millionaire’s Amendment, which triples contribution limits in the primary race to $6,900. Though the other candidates can raise more money because of that, Wiviott is giving his campaign money at a pace they probably won’t be able to match.

The newest contribution came at the end of the first fundraising quarter of the year and only days after Wiviott released a poll that showed him seven points behind Ben R. Luján in the Democratic primary. He’s trying to make up that gap, and do it quickly. He’ll probably spend much of the money on television ads.

Wiviott has said he will spend whatever it takes to win the race.