For the third quarter in a row, Sen. David Vitter (R) raised about $1.2 million.

After spending about $600,000 on his 2010 campaign efforts, he began January with $4.5 million in his campaign account.

Vitter, who was caught up in a prostitution scandal in 2007, is facing Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) in a race in which national Democrats are working hard to drive a wedge between the incumbent and female voters.

Late last week, Melancon took a shot at Vitter for holding up the confirmation of Genevieve Lynn May, who would be Louisiana’s first female U.S. marshal.

Vitter, meanwhile, is running a campaign based more on pocketbook issues.

“I strongly opposed the Wall Street bailouts, the Stimulus and the Obama budget that triples our national debt, while Melancon supports these Obama priorities,— Vitter said in a release to supporters on Monday announcing his fundraising numbers. “With your help, we’ll keep pushing toward victory this November and make sure Obama doesn’t get another ally like Charlie Melancon in the U.S. Senate, and we’ll keep fighting this terrible government-run health care bill.—

Melancon had yet to release his fundraising totals for the fourth quarter of 2009. He ended September with $1.8 million in cash on hand.