Ouch! Scandal Hurting Bob Ficano's Fundraising

Beware: Scandals involving financial shenanigans can kill the flow of campaign contributions.

Beleagured Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, who has become a pinata for the media, has figured that out. He's raised just $2,000 in campaign funds in the past seven months, the Detroit News reports. 

That's considered pretty lame for a guy who has about $600,000 in campaign funds, and someone the News describes as "one of the most prodigious local fundraisers in Michigan."

Ficano is up for re-election in 2014, but hasn't had a fund raiser since word of a fed grand jury probe into county affairs surfaced.

The way things are going, it's hard to say whether the feds will wrap up its probe into the county before the 2014 re-election. Either way, Ficano, the former county sheriff, will face a tough re-election bid.  -- A.L.