Farmer and gospel singer Stephen Fincher (R), who is running to succeed retiring Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), had more than $600,000 in cash as the new year began.Fincher’s campaign released a statement Wednesday claiming that he raised nearly $320,000 in the final quarter of 2009, after pulling in $300,000 in the third quarter.His emergence as a candidate and his fundraising prowess may well have factored into Tanner’s decision last month to retire rather than defend his 8th district seat in 2010.State Sen. Roy Herron (D) has since jumped in the race and announced on Tuesday that he raised a mammoth $675,000 for his Congressional bid in last year’s fourth quarter, of which $250,000 came from the candidate himself in the form of a loan.