Mark Warner Raises $2.5 Million in Three Months

Former governor Mark R. Warner (D) announced today he raised $2.5 million for his U.S. Senate campaign during the first three months of the year.

Warner, who will likely face either Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) or former governor James S. Gilmore III (R)_ in the general election, has about $4.4 million in the bank.

"We are gratified that so many Virginians are enthusiastically supporting Governor Warner's effort to fix what's wrong with Washington today," said Warner spokesman Kevin Hall.

Warner is on pace to be one of the best-funded Democratic Senate candidates, excluding incumbents.

But it remains to be seen whether Warner, who has been raising on average a little less than $1 million a month, can sustain his fundraising operation through the fall considering he is favored to win against either Gilmore or Marshall.

Ana Gamonal, Gilmore's spokeswoman, said he will release his fundraising totals for January through March next week. But Gamonal said Gilmore knows he won't be to match Warner in the money race.

"We are not trying to keep pace with Mark Warner in either raising or spending money," she said.

Marshall's spokesman was not immediately available to comment.