O'Malley has $5.7 million banked, campaign says

Gov. Martin O'Malley's campaign said that it will report next week having more than $5.7 million in the bank, a significant advantage for the Democratic incumbent at the start of an election year in which he is drawing opponents from both political parties.

Fundraising has not been a focus during the past year for former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), who is still considering a rematch with O'Malley this year. Larry Hogan, who has said he will seek the GOP nomination if Ehrlich does not run, has not held any fundraisers while waiting to hear Ehrlich's plans, Hogan said.

Meanwhile, former state veterans secretary George W. Owings III, who announced a Democratic primary challenge to O'Malley last week, had not started raising money prior to his announcement.

O'Malley's war chest is larger than it was in January 2006, when he had $4.2 million at the beginning of the year in which he defeated Ehrlich. At that point, Ehrlich had $8.4 million in the bank, more than O'Malley does now.

Campaign aides said O'Malley's report, which is due to elections officials next week, will show nearly $4.8 million raised during the past year, with contributions coming from 6,200 donors.