Marriage amendment foes rack up cash

Groups on both sides of the debate over the marriage amendment in Minnesota have reported their early summer fundraising information to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

Opponents of the measure that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state Constitution continue to have the financial upper hand.

In the four weeks since their mid-year updates, Minnesotans United for All Families, the main group fighting the amendment, topped off its multi-million dollar campaign with another $750,000. Most of that money is going to salaries for campaign organizers setting up around the state, travel and supplies.

Minnesota for Marriage, the main group supporting the amendment raised $32,000 in the same period, about 4 percent of what opponents raised. It has a smaller paid staff with the largest expenditures going to campaign consultants.

The marriage ballot contest is expected to be close — and expensive. Both sides combined have already raised almost $7 million.