In a Senate race that could have implications for the 2008 presidential contest, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton raised more than $6 million between April and June.
Campaign reports filed by Senate candidates Friday with the Federal Election Commission showed the former first lady, a New York Democrat, had $12.6 million cash on hand at the end of last month, even though she has no clear opponent yet.
Manhattan lawyer Edward Cox, a son-in-law of former President Nixon, has begun preparations to challenge Clinton and Republican party officials also are courting Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro as a possible challenger.
Patti Solis Doyle, executive director of Friends of Hillary, said she expects “very well-funded opposition next year.”
Clinton’s first campaign for Senate in 2000 smashed fundraising records, with she and her Republican opponent, then-congressman Rick Lazio, together spending about $80 million.
A strong showing in next year’s Senate race could give added momentum to Clinton’s early frontrunner status among possible Democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential race. But a bruising contest could slow her down.
Pennsylvania showdown
Another closely watched Senate race is in Pennsylvania, where incumbent Republican Rick Santorum is facing a challenge from the son of a former governor.
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Santorum raised $3.6 million in three months and reported $5.7 million cash on hand as he prepares to fend off Democratic charges that he is too far to the right on social issues.
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The challenger, state treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., reported raising $1.9 million between April and June, ending the period with $1.6 million cash on hand.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., raised about $2.2 million, ending June with $5 million cash on hand. He has raised more than $6 million in preparation for his 2006 campaign.
Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson has amassed $2.3 million for his expected re-election bid next year. He took in $867,000 from April through June, according to his FEC report, although he has not formally announced that he’s running for a second Senate term.
That dwarfed the nearly $23,000 for Republican challenger Don Stenberg, who didn’t enter the Senate race until late April. Republican candidate David Kramer announced his candidacy on June 28 and will not file a campaign finance report with the FEC until the end of September.















