WASHINGTON — Sen. Al Franken raised $1.98 million during the first three months of 2013 and has more than $2 million on hand heading into his first re-election campaign.
The Franken campaign announced the fundraising numbers in a video to supporters on Thursday.
About 55 percent of Franken's first-quarter contributions were for less than $100, according to the campaign, and nearly a quarter came from online donors. The first quarter figure does not include a fundraiser he held last weekend with comedian Conan O'Brien.
Franken has always been strong fundraiser: His 2008 contest with then-Sen. Norm Coleman was the most expensive Senate race in the country that cycle, when Franken raised $22.5 million to Coleman's $23.6 million.
Republicans have yet to field a challenger to Franken, though two potential candidates, businessman Mike McFadden and talk radio host Jason Lewis, have said they're mulling runs. Reps. Erik Paulsen and John Kline have not ruled out challenges, either (Kline has about $750,000 in the bank for a House or Senate run).
Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.