Baldwin tops $2 million in first quarter

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) raised more than $2 million in the past three months, a strong quarter for the Senate hopeful and nearly double the $1.1 million she raised last quarter.

Baldwin now has $2.8 million cash on hand, a strong war chest for this point in the year.

The Wisconsin congresswoman is a liberal darling, and earlier this year she held a major fundraiser with fellow liberal favorite Elizabeth Warren, who is running in Massachusetts. She also has the backing of the pro-abortion rights EMILY's List, a fundraising powerhouse.

One concern: Baldwin has been spending that money quickly — nearly $1 million in the last three months. Her campaign said much of that had gone into direct mail solicitation, a fundraising method that costs much but can bring in even bigger results, which seems to be the case here.

Baldwin will face the winner of the free-for-all Republican primary among former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Rep. Mark Neumann (R-Wis.), big-spending businessman Eric Hovde (R) and Wisconsin Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald (R).