One thing that has surprised me about Missouri’s new era of unlimited campaign donations is how it hasn’t figured into opponent’s campaigns very often.

The mudslinging between U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo., and Attorney General Jay Nixon, the Democrat, hasn’t mentioned the Missouri Ethics Commission much. Strange, since donations of more than $5,000 have to be reported to the commission electronically for immediate digital publication.

Public information such as that is filled with packing material for mudballs. All it needs is a little spin.

Hulshof on Sept. 29 unveiled his plan for schools, which includes taxpayer subsidies for private education. On the same day, according to MEC records, Hulshof accepted $100,000 from Missourians Needing Educational Alternatives, a group that supports — you guessed it — taxpayer subsidies for private education.

The group was financed primarily by billionaire Rex Sinquefield, the man who previously circumvented state law by establishing 100 political action committees.

Nixon’s campaign jumped on news of the donation and reminded people of Nixon’s pledge never to take money from voucher supporters such as Sinquefield.

Hulshof’s campaign fired back, pointing out a $500,000 donation from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents some state workers, on Sept. 10.

All that fuss over $600,000 is not a big deal because the two have raised almost $7 million.

As of Oct. 10, Hulshof reported about $3.4 million in oversized donations (that doesn’t include any donations from the alleged $1.5 million fund-raising dinner with President Bush on Oct. 3). Nixon has reported about $3.8 million in such donations.

What about Libertarian candidate Andrew Finkenstadt? Alas, no one wants to invest — he hasn’t reported a single donation of more than $5,000.

Keep in mind that those totals are comprised only of donations of more than $5,000. Reports that contain every donation will be due closer to the election.

Nevertheless, I have a suspicion that Scott Baker and Oren Shur, the communications directors for Hulshof’s and Nixon’s campaigns, pore over their competitor’s donations religiously looking for gems. That’s why it’s odd that it hasn’t come out more.

Political fund-raising committees have been Hulshof’s main source of cash. Such PACs, whether they represent a party, a candidate or a single-issue focus group, have given more than $1.7 million in oversized donations. The Republican Governors Association of Missouri accounts for $1 million of that.

Hulshof’s No. 2 source of cash is from business and industry owners and leaders. Owners, CEOs and presidents, as well as entire businesses, have given almost $1.1 million.

Some of those donations include $200,000 from David Humphreys, CEO of Tamko Building Products (Ethelmae Humphreys and Sarah Humphreys Atkins, also with the company, have given $100,000 each.)