Paulsen raises more than $650K, Obermueller draws in $331K

Posted at 10:17 AM on October 15, 2012 by Brett Neely
Filed under: Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD2, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD3

WASHINGTON - Incumbents and challengers in Minnesota are reporting fundraising numbers ahead of the final weeks of campaigning.

In the 3rd District, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen raised more than $650,000 in the three months ending September 30th while 2nd District DFL challenger Mike Obermueller's campaign brought in more than $331,000.

Paulsen, who represents the wealthiest district in the state and sits on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, now has more than $1.6 million in his campaign's bank account for the general election. Challenger Brian Barnes has not yet reported his fundraising.

In a sign that Paulsen is not too concerned about his race, he transferred $62,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee which can be used to help vulnerable Republicans in other districts.

Paulsen also ramped up his campaign's spending with a $255,000 ad buy and $27,500 on producing commercials.

Obermueller, who's taking on Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline, has $370,000 cash on hand. Last week, Kline reported raising more than $386,000 in the third quarter and had $1.4 million in the bank.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put Obermueller on its "Red to Blue" list of targeted races, suggesting that Kline was vulnerable in his newly-redrawn district. However, the DCCC has not yet spent any money airing ads against Kline even though the group has been very active in the highly-contested 8th District race.

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