Senator Cardin (D-MD) Builds a Wall of Money for 2012

from the Baltimore Sun

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin will report raising more than $1 million in the second quarter of this year for his 2012 reelection effort, a roughly 32 percent uptick in fundraising from the first quarter, his campaign said Thursday.

More than 1,300 individuals gave to the campaign, according to the announcement, and the Maryland Democrat received the majority of his donations from state residents. Cardin will report having $1.8 million in the bank.

Cardin, who is considered a safe bet for reelection by nonpartisan political observers such as the Cook Political Report, had $1 million on hand at the end of April. The latest figures suggest he spent around $200,000 in the second quarter.

“Helping to create and protect quality jobs, keeping our bay healthy and our drinking water clean, and protecting seniors from efforts to slash Medicare and Social Security are at the top of my daily agenda,” Cardin said in a statement. “It’s humbling to receive such an outpouring of support as I prepare for the 2012 campaign.”

Detailed campaign finance reports for congressional candidates are due to the Federal Election Commission on Friday. Cardin reported raising $756,000 in the first quarter of 2011.

Republican Daniel Bongino, the former U.S. Secret Service agent, will report raising about $11,000, according to his campaign. Bongino created his campaign account June 29, days before the reporting period ended, FEC documents show.

"Senator Cardin's early money advantage will not buy him a winning message with struggling Marylanders who are looking for real answers not political games,” he said in a statement.