Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine purchased $2.5 million in fall TV time for his blockbuster Senate race with fellow former Gov. George Allen.

The campaign announced the buy today along with its pre-primary fundraising. From April 1 to May 23, Kaine outraised Allen by about $450,000, raising more than $1.2 million to Allen’s $751,000.

According to Allen’s fundraising report, which was filed on May 25, Allen spent $641,000 and had $2.75 million in cash on hand. Kaine’s report was filed today and not yet available online, but the campaign announced having $2.5 million left after spending $3 million — including the TV reservation expenditure.

Unlike Allen, Kaine has no challenger in the June 12 primaries. Allen has significantly more money than any of his GOP opponents and is expected to win the nomination handily. Roll Call rates their general election race as a Tossup.

Kaine’s early TV time purchase was enabled by the campaign’s ability to stockpile funds and is a reflection of the battleground that Virginia is expected to be this fall on both the Senate and presidential levels. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have already reserved fall airtime in Virginia, where the TV airwaves will be crowded.