Sen Mark Udall reports $2 million in first quarter

NICHOLAS RICCARDI

DENVER (AP) — Sen. Mark Udall's campaign is reporting it raised $2 million in the first three months of the year for the Democrat's newly competitive re-election effort.

Udall has almost $6 million cash available. The report covers the time during which Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, a rising star in the party, made the surprise announcement he would challenge Udall.

That has vaulted the race into the top tier of Senate contests nationwide. Udall had a substantial lead over his possible Republican challengers in fundraising before Gardner's announcement. Gardner had $800,000 in his campaign account and is expected to receive significant financial support from donors. Most of Udall's other Republican challengers have bowed out of the contest and endorsed Gardner.