Money Pours Into the 6th District for Michele Bachmann, Tarryl Clark and Maureen Reed

Stillwater Gazette has the story.

Three candidates for Minnesota's 6th District congressional seat raised nearly one million dollars in campaign contributions during the third quarter.


Maureen Reed, a Grant resident who is seeking the DFL endorsement, announced that she raised more than $130,000 in the third quarter, for a total of $360,000 raised to date, and has over $300,000 on hand.

"Maureen demonstrates the fundraising strength necessary to defeat Michele Bachmann," Jason Isaacson, campaign manager for Reed's congressional campaign, said in a press release. "Maureen now sits with over $300,000 cash on hand, all of which was raised without relying on endorsements from prominent individuals or special interests. This outpouring of support shows that our message of creating jobs, fixing healthcare, and reducing the national debt is resonating with people. And to do this the old fashioned way, one-on-one talking to donors, is truly humbling and gratifying."

Nearly 100 percent of Reed's fundraising comes from individuals, according to her campaign, with 93 percent of all donations coming from within Minnesota. The campaign was to file its official results with the Federal Election Commission by Oct. 15.

Meanwhile, St. Cloud state Sen. Tarryl Clark raised $308,015 in just nine weeks.

Clark, who entered the race mid-quarter on July 28, is one of only a few challengers nationwide to raise more than $300,000 in a single quarter, according to her campaign.

Clark's 2,412 donors contributed an average of $107. The campaign finished the quarter with just under $270,000 in the bank.

"I think our strong start is a testament to the desire for change across the district," Clark said in press release. "Minnesota's families want a representative who is more interested in getting things done than in generating national headlines. They're working hard every day, and I'm going to work every day for them."

Clark has already earned more than a dozen endorsements in her campaign for Congress, including the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU, AFSCME, and the Saint Cloud State College Democrats.

Bachmann, the incumbent, raised $345,000 in the third quarter. She beat out Clark and Reed in third quarter campaign contributions. She has more than $600,000 in the bank and has spent $118,000.

Also, Bachmann raised more than $100,000 in a single-day fundraising blitz during that time.

The 6th Congressional District includes Stillwater and wraps around the Twin Cities north and west to St. Cloud.