Mississippi state Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R) outraised Rep. Travis Childers (D) in the second quarter by pulling in $312,000 to the Congressman’s $277,000. But Childers ended June with a nearly 4-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over his challenger.

The Congressman had $903,000 in the bank at the end of June compared with about $230,000 for Nunnelee.

Nunnelee acknowledged in an interview Thursday that his cash-on-hand total was depleted by his primary in early June, which he said cost about half a million dollars.

“I think our campaign is stronger because of the primary but it was expensive,” Nunnelee said. “Our job now is to get the resources to communicate our conservative message to the district between now and November.”

Despite being outraised in the second quarter, Childers’ campaign issued a statement touting the fundraising totals as a victory for the incumbent, who is in his first full term.

“Travis continues to receive strong political and financial support, because he is his own man, standing up as an independent voice for the people of North Mississippi,” the statement read. “The recognition from the NRA, National Right to Life, and the Chamber of Commerce, along with the latest campaign finance reports, are four devastating blows to Alan Nunnelee’s campaign in as many weeks.”