Bachmann Maintains Money Edge in Re-Election Race

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Republican Michele Bachmann's opponent for congressional re-election has put more of money into his campaign, but the incumbent still has a wide cash advantage heading into the final weeks.

Democrat Jim Graves reported late Monday that he had raised about $734,000 in the three months ending Sept. 30. The hotel chain owner also loaned his campaign $270,000 more from a personal account. Graves had $614,000 in the bank for the final month.

The national Democratic congressional campaign arm said this week it will assist Graves.

Bachmann raised $4.5 million over the same period and carried $3.5 million into October. The third-term congresswoman still has $607,000 in unpaid bills related to her fateful presidential bid. She has been defraying debt for that run with transfers from her congressional campaign account.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)