Luther Strange dominates fundraising in Senate race

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U.S. Sen. Luther Strange is outpacing his competition in fundraising heading into the final stretch before the special Republican Primary election for his senate seat.

Strange, who was appointed to the seat by former Gov. Robert Bentley in February, raised $1.85 million in the second quarter for a total of $2.7 million raised so far in the special election cycle.

The former Alabama Attorney General has also been on the receiving end of substantial support from a super PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The second-quarter haul puts him far CD 5 Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, who reported $298,000 in fundraising over the past three months and had $1.3 million on hand July 1.

The third major candidate running for the seat is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, who pulled in $305,000 over the three-month span. The vast majority of that money came in from small-dollar donors who gave $100 or less.

Despite the money lead, Strange will likely have to win three elections to keep his seat.

A recent poll indicates a tight race among the top three candidates, with Moore leading the crowded Republican Primary field with 31 percent support among GOP voters. Strange followed with 23 percent and Brooks had 21 percent support.

Gov. Kay Ivey scheduled the primary election for Aug. 15, and if no candidate passes 50 percent in the election, a runoff between the top-two vote-getters is slated for Sept. 28.

Strange seems to be focusing on Brooks, and has put some of his campaign money to use on mailers blasting the congressman for not supporting Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential primary, and for his criticism of Trump after he secured the GOP nomination.

The winner of the November general election will serve at least until January 2021, which is the rest of the term U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions won in the 2014 election cycle.