Coleman's campaign releases campaign numbers

Announces campaign
Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman formally launched his re-election campaign last month in St. Paul. At his side is his wife, Laurie.
MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik

Republican Senator Norm Coleman's re-election campaign took in more than two million dollars during the first three months of the year. Coleman's campaign ended the first quarter with almost seven million dollars on hand.

Coleman's campaign says his re-election effort attracted more than 4,700 first-time donors during the first quarter of 2008.

Coleman formally launched his re-election campaign late last month but has been raising money for months. So far he's collected more than 12 million dollars. The campaign says it has received contributions from more than 23,000 Minnesotans.

DFLer AL Franken is generally regarded as the front-runner in the contest to win the DFL endorsement to run again Coleman. Franken has not yet released his first quarter fund raising numbers.

DFLer Jack Nelson Pallmeyer who's also seeking the endorsement raised about $265,000 during the first quarter. That pushed Nelson-Pallemyer past his goal of raising at least 1/2 million dollars for the endorsement race.