Chuck Fleischmann, who’s running in the GOP primary for the 3rd District seat in the U.S. Congress, reported Monday that he has so far raised more than $720,000.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who holds the 3rd District seat, is running for governor of Tennessee.
Records show Mr. Fleischmann, a Republican attorney, had about $522,000 as of Dec. 31. Seventy percent of that total — $380,000 — came out of his own pocket, records show.
The campaign funds reported Monday were for the first quarter ending March 31.
Mr. Fleischmann said in a prepared statement Monday that he looks “forward to continuing to spread my message of deficit reduction, earmark reform, fighting to repeal the health care bill, fighting for each and every human life and fighting for traditional marriage.”
In a prepared statement, Mr. Fleischmann’s chief strategist Chip Saltsman said, “Our campaign has done a great job of raising money and being frugal with our funds.”
Mr. Fleischmann’s press secretary Jordan Powell said Monday that details of how the money was raised would be available when the official campaign report is issued.
One of Mr. Fleischmann’s Republican opponents, former Tennessee Republican Party Chairwoman Robin Smith, had a little more than $240,000 as of Dec. 31, records show. She pointed out at the time that all but about $5,000 had come from individual contributions, not her own pocket.
Also running in the GOP primary are Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble, businessman Tommy Crangle, attorney Van Irion, educator Jean Howard-Hill and retired Air Force Capt. Rick Kernea, among others.
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