Steve Southerland and Gwen Graham Raising Serious Campaign Cash

Money is flowing into the Big Bend region where one of the most competitive congressional races in Florida is shaping up.

U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., announced on Tuesday that his campaign brought in more than $461,000 during the second quarter of 2013. In a message to supporters on Tuesday, Southerland noted this was the best fundraising quarter he has ever had and ripped into House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Nancy Pelosi knows her only path to the speaker's gavel is through defeating principled conservative leaders in battleground districts like ours, Southerland wrote. That's why her Washington attack machine made us a Top 10 target. But we've sent them a strong message today that we're prepared to fight for our North and Northwest Florida values and remain an independent voice in Congress -- true to our roots in all that we do.

Even as former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson ponders launching a third congressional bid, Gwen Graham, the daughter of longtime Florida politician Bob Graham who served as governor and in the U.S. Senate, noted she brought in more than $375,000 since launching her bid against Southerland in April.

This was our first big test, and we passed with flying colors! Gwen Graham wrote supporters on Monday. Thanks to grassroots support from people like you, were sending a clear message that we will win this race.