Donations pour into Bachmann campaign

by Brett Neely, Minnesota Public Radio

WASHINGTON — The money race for Congress is heating up. Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has announced a big fundraising haul.

Bachmann's campaign pulled in $1.7 million in the three months ending June 30. That's $100,000 more than she raised at this point in the 2010 election.

Campaign manager Chase Kroll said more than 40,000 donors gave an average of less than $45 to Bachmann's campaign.

Her campaign did not disclose how much cash it's sitting on, a possible sign of heavy spending. Bachmann has been saddled with heavy debt that was a result of her failed bid for the White House that ended in January.

Regardless, Bachmann's fundraising well exceeds the $400,000 raised by her DFL opponent, hotel owner Jim Graves, reported a few hours earlier.

Some of Graves' money comes from a $150,000 loan he made to his campaign.