After raising $100,000 in just 30 days — more than her opponent raised in three months — lawyer Nikki Tinker (D) wants more for her bid to oust Rep. Steve Cohen (D) in next summer’s Democratic primary.

Tinker has drafted an e-mail appeal to her supporters, telling them of her fast fundraising start and asking them to help her keep up the momentum.

“I am humbled by the response and early grassroots support from so many of you,” Tinker wrote. “Your many kind words, gestures and prayers have lifted me, inspired me and will help me to win this race.”

Tinker finished almost 6 points behind Cohen in last year’s crowded open-seat Democratic primary, but this time she’s hoping the dynamics are different. In a majority-black district, Cohen was able to win in part because he was the lone top-flight white candidate in a race with many well-known black contenders.

Tinker is clearly calculating that she’ll be the only black challenger of note in 2008, making it more difficult for Cohen to hold on to the Memphis-based seat.

While Tinker was raising $100,000 and banking $103,000 through the end of June, Cohen raised $92,000 in the second quarter of the year and finished the month with $255,000 on hand.
— Josh Kurtz