Buchanan touts big bucks

Sarasota Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan, who waged one of the most costly congressional races to replace Rep. Katherine Harris, says he raised more than $600,000 in the second quarter of 2008, "bringing his record-breaking fundraising for re-election" to $3 million.

Buchanan's campaign manager Joe Gruters said in a press release that Buchanan has twice as many donors from the congressional district as his nearest opponent.

Buchanan faces a re-match against Democrat Christine Jennings, who contested her under-400 vote loss in 2006 all the way to Washington. But Buchanan's camp says the race is no longer ranked among the most competitive. Financial disclosure reports for all the candidates are due to the Federal Election Commission next Tuesday.