By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – Republican Roy Blunt took in $2.2 million in recent months while enlarging his cash advantage over Democrat Robin Carnahan in Missouri's U.S. Senate race.
Campaign finance reports released Thursday show Carnahan raised more than $1.5 million during that same period of April through June. It was the strongest fundraising quarter for both candidates.
Blunt, a congressman from southwest Missouri, and Carnahan, the secretary of state, are their parties' leading contenders in the Aug. 3 primaries. They are seeking to replace Republican Sen. Kit Bond who's retiring.
Blunt began July with $4.5 million in his campaign account, compared with $3.6 million for Carnahan. Carnahan's campaign says that includes only some of the money from a fundraiser last week with President Barack Obama.