House incumbents get leg up on fundraising

Only two House incumbents, U.S. Reps. Chip Cravaack and Collin Peterson, have significant challengers already raising money for the 2012 election.

That means the second-quarter fundraising figures released Friday gave the other incumbents a head start building a campaign war chest. Both Cravaack and Peterson out-raised their opponents, too.

Rep. Erik Paulsen topped House members not named Rep. Michele Bachmann by collecting nearly $400,000 from April-June, while Rep. Betty McCollum raised the least with just under $115,000.

Here's the tale of the tape for each district with second-quarter totals for money raised and cash on hand, from Federal Election Commission filings:

1st:
Rep. Tim Walz (D): $359,000 raised, $398,000 cash on hand.

2nd:
Rep. John Kline (R): $327,000 raised, $583,000 cash on hand.

3rd:
Rep. Erik Paulsen (R): $399,000 raised, $679,000 cash on hand.

5th:
Rep. Keith Ellison (D): $231,000 raised, $169,000 cash on hand.

6th:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R): $4.2 million raised between congressional and presidential campaign (which is transferable), and $3.6 million cash on hand in the two committees.

7th:
Rep. Collin Peterson (D): $161,000 raised, $581,000 cash on hand.
Lee Byberg (R): $40,000 raised, $42,000 cash on hand.