McConnell keeps adding to warchest as Democrats' search for an opponent drags on

10/19/2012 04:50 PM

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has continued to pass key thresholds with each passing fundraising report as he most recently cracked the $10 million mark in total money raised for his 2014 re-election.

He has $6.8 million in the bank after raising more than $1 million between July 1 and Sept. 30, according to McConnell’s third quarter campaign finance report that was posted early Friday on the Federal Election Commission website.

McConnell’s re-election campaign padded its cash-on-hand from $6 million in July to $6.8 million after spending $155,000.

Most of the money the Republican Senate leader’s campaign raised came from out of state, with McConnell bringing in about 22.5 percent of his donations from the Bluegrass state.

McConnell, who is seeking his sixth term, is far out-pacing his last re-election campaign. Two years before his 2008 re-election, he had raised $2.7 million dollars. His campaign ended up raising and spending about $19 million that year against Democratic candidate Bruce Lunsford.

Democrats still haven’t recruited a candidate to face McConnell. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who lost to McConnell in 1996 but said his last campaign was his final one, told Pure Politics this week that he’s confident the party will find a challenger.

About Ryan Alessi

Ryan Alessi joined cn|2 in May 2010 as senior managing editor and host of Pure Politics. He has covered politics for more than 10 years, including 7 years as a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Follow Ryan on Twitter @cn2Alessi. Ryan can be reached at 502-792-1135 or ryan.alessi@twcable.com.

Comments

  • J D M wrote on October 22, 2012 12:23 PM :

    It should take a lot less money to re-elect someone who has done a great job of representing the people of KY. In McConnell’s case, he will need every dollar he can grab.
    How can he possibly represent Kentuckians when almost 78% of his funds are coming from out of state? He is Senator from Ky! All the out of state money wil;l assure his greater loyalty to the Rep. Party, rather than to the people of Ky. Devisive, partisan politics are alive and doing well, for some.

  • Willie K. wrote on October 23, 2012 08:32 AM :

    Three words — Draft George Clooney.

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