Sen. Burris challenger raises $1.1 million

Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) raised $1.1 million in one month for his early bid for Sen. Roland Burris’s (D-Ill.) seat.

The total, reported Tuesday by the Chicago Sun-Times, should help Giannoulias in scaring off other challengers and could serve notice that he will be a formidable foe.

{mosads}So far, Giannoulias is the only major candidate in the race, but former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and Rep. Jan Schakowsky are among the Democrats still considering their options, along with Burris. On the GOP side, national leaders hope Rep. Mark Kirk will enter the race.

The numbers from Giannoulias aren’t altogether surprising, given his previous statewide experience, his business background and family ties, and the early nods of support he has received from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

But Giannoulias’s supporters noted that it was done in a tough fundraising climate, where signs increasingly point to significantly reduced political giving.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who will try to retain the Senate seat she was appointed to early this year, announced Monday that she raised $2.3 million in her first two months on the fundraising trail. Giannoulias’s report will offer a similar fundraising pace, and Gillibrand was one of the top fundraisers among congressional incumbents last cycle.