Top 3 Fundraisers in Q3:
Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-KY) - $2,527,000
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) - $2,269,000
Al Franken (D-MN) - $2,083,000
That's some impressive numbers for Grimes, especially if you look at the burn rate.
Of Grimes' $2,527,000, she has spent $536K. Of McConnell's $2,269,000, his campaign has spent $2,082,000. If that continues for the next 1-2 quarters, Grimes will likely have more Cash on Hand by the time the election rolls around, erasing McConnell's money advantage.
We saw the same thing in 2012 with Obama For America spending big early on GOTV, ground work, and campaign ads. McConnell might be doing the same thing. Grimes needs to go on the air early to define herself before Senator McConnell does it himself. She's got the money, and is guaranteed to make millions more in the next year. There no downside to spending big and early.