Now that she has won her primary, retired Marine pilot Amy McGrath can turn her full attention to taking on Senator Mitch McConnell. And if fund-raising is any indication, she’s ready and capable of giving him a serious challenge.
In reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission, McGrath’s campaign reported raising over $17 million in the Q2 reporting period. McConnell’s campaign reported raising $12.8 million in the same period.
And, even after spending significant amounts toward the end of her primary to fend off challenger Rep. Charles Booker, McGrath is still almost even with McConnell in cash-on-hand, $16.2 million to $16.8 million.
Perhaps most impressive are the totals. In the one year since McGrath announced, she has raised $47 million to McConnell’s $33 million, even though McConnell is the incumbent and is known as a prolific fund-raiser.
Money is not the be-all and end-all of campaigns, of course. More than one candidate has won the fund-raising battle and lost the election.
But for the first time since he was elected to the Senate in 1984, Mitch McConnell is facing an opponent as well funded as he is.
And that could make this race in deep-red Kentucky just a little more interesting.
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