[3] By April 2010, Scott had raised over $20,000, received many grassroots volunteers and attracted media attention for her fundraising efforts.
[10][11] On October 7, the progressive group Open Left reported that the politically liberal advocacy group People For the American Way had given financial support to state legislators Liias and Mike Frerichs of Illinois, and singled out those state legislators to receive special attention and financial support.
An attack site emerged in June which accused Scott of being a "carpetbagger", "career union soldier" and "not a real conservative".
[16] Liias denied the charge while Scott and local GOP leaders suggested that Tagle was behind the first attack site.
The site, as described by the local media, has a March-madness basketball tournament-type bracket with competition among what it says are flaws in Liias’ personal, financial or political background.
As one local media outlet summarized, "Scott and Liias have each accused the other of violating a pledge to run clean campaigns based on issues.