Bachmann leads Graves in money race

Updated: August 2, 2012 - 9:39 PM

The 6th District congresswoman raised $1.08 million, 17 times as much as her DFL challenger, in the first 25 days of July.

hide

Michele Bachmann

Photo: Mark Welsh, Associated Press

Camera Star Tribune photo galleries

Camera view larger

27
comments
resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

DFLer 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.

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 Ellison and Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- had deep ties to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt.

The three-term incumbent has raised roughly $8.4 million this election cycle and has more than $2.05 million socked away for her re-election bid.

Graves 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 $328,000 more in contributions from individuals and political action committees.

COREY MITCHELL