Four days after Republicans turned to Rep. Michele Bachmann for a nationwide fundraising push, Democrats are now hoping Sen. Al Franken will help lift their fundraising totals as the June 30 end-of-quarter fundraising deadline approaches.

Franken sent an email to supporters of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee soliciting donations 72 hours before the end-of-quarter deadline — significant because high fundraising totals signal strength at the election year's midway point.

Franken's email attacked the GOP for recent statements that its Tea Party movement candidates had made, as well as Texas Rep. Joe Barton's apology for the "shakedown" of BP.

"Can you imagine what our government might look like if extremist candidates like Rand Paul and Sharron Angle succeeded in 'taking it back?' " Franken wrote. "The halls of Congress would be filled with people apologizing to British Petroleum, demanding we deregulate big banks and questioning the need for the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

Franken's also cited the "few hundred Minnesotans" who got him elected, trying to make the case that individuals can sway an election.