Harris raising more in 1st District

July 16, 2008

Congressional candidate Andy Harris continued to outpace his opponent Frank Kratovil in fundraising in the second quarter, but the gap between the two narrowed, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Harris, a Republican state senator and anesthesiologist, raised about $432,000 from April through June and personally lent his campaign $100,000. He had about $609,000 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.

Kratovil, the Democratic state's attorney in Queen Anne's County, raised $376,000 during the quarter and was left with $454,000 in cash on hand.

Harris beat nine-term incumbent Republican Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest in the February primary, and the race has caught the attention of national political groups. While Maryland's Eastern Shore-centered 1st District has long been held by the GOP, Democrats say they believe they can win in the November general election.