Republican Ed Gillespie announced Tuesday that his Senate campaign in Virginia raised $2.2 million in the first quarter, more than any other non-incumbent GOP Senate candidate.
Gillespie received contributions from 1,700 individual donors, 60 percent of them from Virginia. Fifteen of those donors had previously given to his Democratic opponent, Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.).
"In less than a full quarter, the Gillespie campaign raised more money than any other Republican Senate challenger in the country," said Chris Leavitt, Gillespie’s campaign manager. "Virginia voters know that they have an opportunity not only to replace a senator who’s voted 97 percent of the time with President Obama, but to replace Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader. Our first quarter report shows strong support from across the Commonwealth and reflects enthusiasm for Ed Gillespie’s plans to put Virginians first and unleash job creation."
Gillespie is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and adviser to former President George W. Bush.
The strong fundraising quarter follows some momentum for Gillespie in a recent poll. While Warner leads Gillespie overall by 49 to 35 percent, Gillespie garnered more support among independents and Hispanics.