Sarbanes, Harris Lead in 2012 Race for Campaign Cash

Rep. John P. Sarbanes, a third-term Democrat who faces little opposition for re-election in 2012, raised more campaign cash than any other Baltimore-area member of Congress in the past three months, campaign finance reports made public over the weekend show.

The Baltimore County lawmaker reported raising $383,686 in political contributions from April through the end of June and has more than $893,000 on hand — a sizable haul for a district that political observers consider safe for Democrats.

In a statement, Sarbanes said his fundraising will allow him to run a "robust" campaign next year.

Rep. Andy Harris, the Baltimore County Republican whose district stretches to the Eastern Shore, had the next-best quarter in the Baltimore region, raising $276,576 over three months and putting nearly $415,000 in the bank. Harris represents a district that voted for a Democrat, Frank M. Kratovil Jr., in 2008.

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