Sen. Norm Coleman (R) raised more than $2 million in the first quarter of this year and ended March with $7 million in cash on hand, according to his campaign. Coleman’s campaign also said the Senator had raised $12.37 million for the cycle through the end of last month.

“Minnesotans are embracing Norm’s positive vision that brings people together to get things done,” Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said. “Voters are tired of the divisive rhetoric of politicians like Al Franken (D) and want someone who has a history of working across party lines. Senator Coleman believes that some issues are too big for one party to solve.”

Franken’s campaign did not have numbers available Monday for the most recent quarter, but his campaign raised $7 million through the end of 2007 and had about $3 million in cash on hand at that time.

The comedian faces anti-war activist Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer for the Democratic nomination, which will be decided by whoever gets the party’s endorsement in June at the state convention. The winner of the nomination, likely Franken, will face Coleman in November in what is sure to be one of the most competitive Senate races this cycle.
— Shira Toeplitz