Rep. Latham raises $580k for race against Rep. Boswell

Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) raised over half a million dollars last quarter to support his highly watched battle next fall against Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa).

Latham, whose district merged with Boswell's as a result of redistricting, setting up a battle of political heavyweights next fall in the Hawkeye State, raised over $580,000 between April and the end of June, his campaign said Monday.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) trumpeted the haul Monday as a sign of early advantage by Latham over Boswell, who hasn't yet said what he raised in the second quarter.

"Congressman Latham’s strong fundraising clearly demonstrates his record of putting Iowa taxpayers first has earned him the early momentum in this race," said NRCC spokeswoman Andrea Bozek. "It’s obvious that Leonard Boswell is having difficulty explaining his tireless support for Nancy Pelosi’s spending addiction that has indebted Iowa families to foreign countries like China.”

Latham enjoys a $1.5 million stockpile in his campaign account, money that can go far in Iowa's relatively inexpensive media market.