April 03, 2009 01:17 AM UTC

Bennet Raises $1.35 Million in First Three Months

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• by: Republican 36

(Let it begin, let it begin, let it begin! – promoted by Colorado Pols)

POLS UPDATE: Bam, says the Denver Post’s Lynn Bartels:

That fundraising success is likely to go a long way to scaring off a potential primary opponent – and could even give Republicans eyeing a run against the newly minted Democratic senator some pause.

Up to now, Bennet has been an unknown quantity as a fundraiser, a political neophyte who has never run for public office but who also has strong ties to the business community and a national reputation as an education reformer.

The last of those factors have turned out to be major assets, allowing Bennet to beat Democrat Mark Udall’s best off-year effort – $1.12 million in the second quarter of 2007 – by several hundred thousand dollars.

“He has a deep network of donors, both in Colorado and nationally, who may not be the normal, traditional folks who would give to somebody but who are really stepping up in a big way,” said Craig Hughes, Bennet’s campaign manager.

Senator Bennet raised over $1.35 million during the first three months of 2009. Very impressive for someone who just got into politics. At that rate, he will raise over $11 million by the November 2010 election which should be enough to run a very good campaign. These have to be sobering numbers for Messrs. Buck, Frazier and Beauprez.

This is another indication Senator Bennet knows what he is doing.