Meek surpasses $3 million mark in campaign fund

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, raised $1.2 million in the second quarter of this year in his U.S. Senate campaign, bringing cash raised since the campaign began to more than $3 million, his campaign announced Tuesday.

The total includes $347,000 held over from Meek's former U.S. House campaign fund.

Meek's totals are respectable but may appear less impressive after his likely Republican opponent, Gov. Charlie Crist, announces his fundraising totals. Crist, who set political fundraising records in his 2006 race for governor, is likely to announce a far higher total.

"We know we're not going to raise the kind of money Charlie Crist will. We just need to be competitive, and we are," Meek campaign strategist Ana Cruz said.

Meek faces a primary challenge from North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns but could face a tougher challenge from U.S. Rep. Corinne Brown, who's considering entering the race.

Most of the money Meek has raised - more than $2.5 million - is designated for spending in the primary contest rather than in the general election.

Cruz said the campaign isn't asking donors for both a general election and primary election contribution.

"We're not setting out to break records here. We'll return to those supporters in the general," she said.

Cruz couldn't provide a figure for Meek's total cash on hand.

June 30 was the last day of the second quarter, the three-month period covered by the second-quarter campaign finance reports required from candidates.

But campaigns don't have to release those numbers until the reports are due in mid-July. Until then, they can announce only what information they please and will seek to use the information to achieve maximum political benefit.

Large early fundraising totals can scare off potential primary opponents or convince wavering party activists to back a candidate.