Klobuchar Starts Strong

Amy Klobuchar has reportedly raised $580,000 in the first five weeks of her campaign out doing Republican shoo-in Rep. Mark Kennedy by $30,000. The campaigns reported ending the quarter with $550,000 in Klobuchar’s war chest and $510,000 in Kennedy’s.

This is a potentially bad indicator for Patty Wetterling, a Democratic fore-runner for the seat who lost to Kennedy for the 6th district House seat in 2004, as she reported raising only $330,000 for the same period. Wetterling’s showing, however, is only disappointing when compared to Klobuchar’s. $330,000 is still an impressive amount this early in the election cycle. Wetterling has yet to officially announce her candidacy but Mike Dorsey, Wetterling’s campaign spokesman, has said, “She is running.”

Rod Grams, who Dayton ousted in 2000, has said that he will seek the Republican endorsement but is still no where to be found. He has yet to start fund raising and generally seems disengaged from the whole process.