KY-2: Guthrie and Haire announce financials

The open seat race for Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District looks to be drawing a lot of attention from campaign contributors. This morning, the campaigns of the only Republican candidate and one of two Democratic contenders announced their first quarter fundraising totals.

Republican State Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) - who was the benefactor of a March 31 fundraiser in Lexington headlined by Vice President Dick Cheney - pulled in $402,267 in the 1Q. $353,596 was reported as "on-hand" as of the March 31 filing deadline.

"I am humbled and energized by this overwhelming show of support," Guthrie said in a campaign release. "Our campaign is growing everyday."

The Guthrie campaign also said their candidate only had two months to fundraise, as Guthrie filed to run on January 29.

A Guthrie release also noted the "total amount raised more than doubled Rep. Lewis’s total from the same period in ’06, and nearly doubled Lewis’s quarterly average for the entire ’06 cycle."

The campaign of Daviess County Judge/Executive and Democratic primary candidate Reid Haire announced a 1Q total of $203,098 this morning.

Earlier, Haire's campaign manager, Tim Shock, told PolitickerKY.Com the amount consisted solely of contributions, and not loans.

"To have raised over $200,000 in less than eight weeks is a testament to the commitment and work ethic of Reid Haire. This demonstrates that he is the only candidate who will have the necessary resources to win the Democratic nomination and to be successful in November," said Shock in a statement today.

A spokesman for the campaign of Haire's primary opponent, State Senator David Boswell (D-Sorgho), acknowledged a light 1Q. Reports from Polwatchers and the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer indicate Boswell has said he raised $38,000 so far in the race.