NASHVILLE -- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Haslam outraised GOP rival Zach Wamp by more than a 2-1 margin between Jan. 15 and March 31, hauling in another $1.3 million for his campaign, according to figures released Monday by both candidates.
Knoxville Mayor Haslam's campaign said that puts Mr. Haslam's total fundraising above $7 million. The campaign, which recently spent $1 million on television advertising alone, would not say how much cash it has on hand.
Disclosures are not due to be reported to the state's Registry of Election Finance until April 12.
In a Haslam campaign news release, Memphis businessman Brad Martin, a Haslam finance team member, said, the "broad-based financial support Bill Haslam has received is indicative of Tennesseans' enthusiasm for his unique combination of successful private-sector and public-sector executive experience."
U.S. Rep. Wamp, R-Tenn., meanwhile, said in a news release that he plans to file a campaign disclosure report by April 12 that will state he raised about $500,000, boosting his total take raised over the course of the entire campaign to $3.2 million and leaving him with nearly $2.2 million in cash on hand.
The Chattanooga congressman said fundraising "puts us right where we need to be at just the right time and helps us communicate our 20/20 Vision for an even better Tennessee. This election is about ideas, vision and passion and how to make Tennessee even better, not just about money. So we don't need the most money to win but just enough to carry our message to more voters."
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He said recent straw poll victories underscore his strength.
In a statement, Mr. Haslam said he and his wife, Crissy, "have received incredible support out on the campaign trail, and the response to our statewide Jobs Tour really showed us that Tennesseans want their next governor to be someone with business experience balancing budgets and meeting payroll."
The third major candidate, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, who is the state Senate speaker, is barred from raising money during the time the General Assembly is in session. In his year end disclosure, he reported having about $2.35 million in cash on hand. No first quarter figures were available Monday evening.
Democrat Mike McWherter recently injected $1 million of his own money into his campaign. The campaign did not respond to requests for their first quarter totals.