Franken’s opponent raises $780K

The Republican front-runner to face Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has kept up his strong fundraising pace, pulling in $780,000 in the last three months of 2013.

Businessman Mike McFadden (R) has $1.7 million in the bank for his race against Franken, having raised $2.2 million since he entered the race in late May.

McFadden is the favorite of establishment Republicans, who believe the freshman senator could be vulnerable, if 2014 turns into a wave year for Republicans.

“I am truly grateful for all the support Minnesotans have given to my campaign over the past few months,” McFadden said in a statement. “If there’s anything to learn from 2013, it’s that we can do better as a state and as a nation. Obamacare is still a disaster, the government is still spending too much money and middle class families are still worried about the economy.

“I look forward to hitting the campaign trail again in 2014,” he continued, “and holding Al Franken accountable for failing to address the challenges that Minnesota families face today.”

Franken has yet to announce his fourth quarter haul. He had nearly $4 million in the bank as of the last report, which ended at the end of last September.