Mitch McConnell reports $2.27M fundraising haul, biggest to date

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced his biggest fundraising quarter to date Friday, with a haul of $2.27 million. 

McConnell is running for reelection in 2014 against Republican businessman Matt Bevin and Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, who currently serves as Kentucky’s secretary of State. 

McConnell has raised a total of $17.7 million in the election cycle so far. 

In the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, he received donations from 6,000 different people who contributed about an average of $50. 

“Sen. McConnell enjoys broad support from Kentuckians and Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life who appreciate his hard work and principled conservative leadership,” said campaign manager Jesse Benton in a statement. 

“We are running a presidential-level campaign designed to withstand the millions of dollars in attack ads coming from out-of-state groups and deliver Senator McConnell’s message directly to Kentucky voters.”

{mosads}The campaign says it would report to the Federal Election Commission that McConnell has less than $10 million cash on hand. 

After the second quarter, McConnell had $9.6 million cash on hand, as of June 30. 

While Kentucky is a strong Republican state, McConnell still faces tough challenges, especially from Grimes. 

In an AP poll released this week, only 10 percent of the public had a favorable view of McConnell. 

McConnell has served in Congress since 1985.