Bachmann leads 2012 money chase

Michele Bachmann

Minnesota House and Senate candidates took in more than $6 million during the second quarter of 2012, according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann raked in the biggest haul at $1.9 million. That’s more than six times the amount raised by DFL challenger Jim Graves in the Sixth Congressional District.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took in $950,000 and has $5.5 million in the bank. GOP challenger state Rep. Kurt Bills raised $243,000, but finished the quarter with just $65,000 in the bank. That’s less than 2 percent of the cash on hand for Klobuchar.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, who faces re-election in 2014, has raised $2.8 million so far this election cycle and finished the quarter with more than $900,000 in the bank.

Here’s a rundown of the rest of the number:

•  CD 1: DFL incumbent Tim Walz raised $237,000 and has $808,000 cash on hand. Among the GOP challengers, Allen Quist reported $178,000 in contributions and $165,000 cash on hand, while Mike Parry raised $52,000 and has $30,000 in the bank. (Quist’s total includes a $170,000 contribution from the candidate, and just $8,000 in public donations.)

• CD 2: GOP incumbent John Kline raised $428,000 and has $1.3 million cash on hand, roughly four times as much as DFL challenger Mike Obermueller, who pulled in $220,000 and has $325,000  $214,000 in the bank.

• CD 3: GOP incumbent Erik Paulsen reported $454,000 in second quarter contributions with $1.6 million in the bank, dwarfing DFL opponent Brian Barnes‘ totals of $107,000 and $57,000.

• CD 4: This contest attracted less cash than any other Minnesota House race. DFL incumbent Betty McCollum reported $90,000 raised with $206,000 on hand, while challenger Anthony Hernandez received $17,000, and has only $5,000 in the bank.

• CD 5: DFL incumbent Keith Ellison took in $260,000 and reported $143,000 in the bank, while GOP challenger Chris Fields raised $40,000 and has $34,000 cash on hand.

• CD 6: Bachmann took in $1.9 million and is sitting on a war chest of $1.7 million. The Star Tribune points out that 80 percent of her money came from donors outside of Minnesota. Graves raised $263,000 and has just over $400,000 cash on hand. (The second quarter fundraising total for Graves includes a $150,000 loan from the candidate.)

•  CD 7: DFL incumbent Collin Peterson raised $191,000 and has more than $800,000 in the bank. GOP challenger Lee Byberg, who is running for the second straight cycle, took in $113,000 and has $119,000 cash on hand. (Byberg’s campaign also reported debts of $117,000).

• CD 8: GOP incumbent Chip Cravaack raised $387,000 and has nearly $900,000 on hand. Tarryl Clark led the trio of DFL challengers, reporting $210,000 raised and $259,000 in the bank. DFL endorsee Nolan took in $128,000 and has $93,000 cash on hand, while Jeff Anderson reported raising $50,000 and $18,000 on hand.