Pence tops Gregg in early fundraising in governor’s race

The candidates of Indiana's Republican establishment posted strong showings in the latest fundraising figures, but Democrats hoping to cash in on division within the party ran close behind in the fundraising period that ended June 30.

In the race for governor, Republican Rep. Mike Pence has collected more than $1 million since announcing his candidacy May 5. A person familiar with the campaign provided the figure on condition of anonymity because the financial report hadn't been completed.

Pence wasn't available for comment Wednesday.

Democrat John Gregg has brought in $717,000 so far. Campaign spokesman Steve Campbell says the former House speaker is collecting an average of $100,000 a week.

Fishers businessman Jim Wallace, who Democrats hope will significantly weaken Pence in the May 2012 Republican primary, raised $500,000 since announcing his candidacy in February, said campaign manager Jeff Howe.

In Indiana's 2012 Senate race, Sen. Richard Lugar reported raising $900,000 from April to the end of June. Lugar is facing a tough primary challenge from state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, whose campaign raised an estimated $300,000 during the same period.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly topped $440,000 over the last three months in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat, said campaign spokesman Ben Ray.

Both the most recent federal and state fundraising periods ended June 30, giving an early look into political fortunes during what likely will be a heated campaign cycle. Campaigns are not required to file reports until July 15.

The Mourdock and Lugar campaigns said the money they raised gave them an early edge in building a network of grassroots volunteers and Republican activists.

"We are building a grass-roots organization that will be second to none and have ramped up our campaign this quarter with the hiring of field staff to coordinate activities across the Hoosier State," Mourdock said in a statement Tuesday.

Lugar's campaign manager, Emily Krueger, wrote in an email to supporters Tuesday that they used the money in part to bolster their phone-banking operation, adding "a travel unit and 10 additional phones that enable us to take our phone bank to volunteers around the state and make even more calls."