Democrat Jim Graves raised $63,500 during the first 25 days of July for his congressional campaign.

But his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, raised 17 times as much -- $1.08 million -- during the same period to widen the fundraising gap in the race to represent Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District.

Graves' internal polling from earlier this summer shows him within striking distance of upsetting Bachmann, but she continues to maintain a wide lead in campaign contributions.

The candidates have relied on different fundraising tactics: Bachmann has developed a national network of small donors, with more than 80 percent of her funds coming from outside Minnesota. More than 85 percent of Graves' contributions have come from Minnesotans, including a quarter million from his own pocket.

Bachmann's July fundraising haul came during the same month she drew widespread criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike for alleging that two American political figures -- Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Keith Ellisona and Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- had deep ties to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt.

A three-term incumbent, Bachmann has raised roughly $8.4 million this election cycle and has more than $2.05 million stocked away for her re-election bid.

Graves, a wealthy hotel magnate, had $351,000 banked for his campaign as of July 25. Despite vowing not to self-fund his campaign, he's spent $250,000 of his own money thus far -- and raised another $328,000 in contributions from individuals and political action committees.