The campaign finance battle between Republican Andy Harris, the leading GOP challenger in this fall’s U.S. District 1 congressional race, and incumbent Democrat Frank Kratovil Jr. indicates another close race ahead. In second quarter finance reports ending June 30, Kratovil raised $390,413 compared to $371,323 for Harris. Kratovil defeated Harris by a close margin in the 2008 general election, collecting 177,065 votes compared to 174,213 for Harris. Harris had defeated nine-term Republican incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the 2008 Republican primary.

Harris, a state senator for the 7th District and an anesthesiologist who lives in Cockeysville, has raised $1,350,619 for the 2009-2010 fund-raising cycle and has $896,742 cash on hand. He has spent $518,219. Eighty-one percent ($1,095,899) of Harris’ funds have come from individual contributions and 17 percent ($224,949) have come from PAC contributions. Harris out-raised Kratovil in the first quarter of 2010 by $76,749.

Kratovil, a former State’s Attorney for Queen Anne’s County who lives in Stevensville, holds a lead in total amount raised $1,720,176 in the 2009-2010 cycle. He has $1.3-million cash on hand, having spent $411,760. Forty-six percent ($798,886) of Kratovil’s funds have come from individual donations. Fifty-two percent ($886,541) have come from PAC contributions.

Republican candidate Rob Fisher, an entrepreneur in Salisbury, has raised a total of $445,000. Also running in the 1st District race are Dr. Richard Davis, a Libertarian from Hurlock, and Jack Wilson, an Independent from Arnold.