EXCLUSIVE: Andy Barr Pads War Chest In Three-Way Kentucky Primary

Republican Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr raised nearly $1.8 million for his Senate run in the third fundraising quarter, adding to his campaign coffers for what promises to be an expensive primary contest for the open Senate seat.

Barr is expected to tout the haul, first shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation, as evidence of growing momentum behind his Senate run. His campaign had more than $6.6 million in the bank at the end of the third quarter, which extends from July to September. (RELATED: Democrats’ Favorite Black Hole Of Fundraising Is Back To Lose Another Senate Race)

“Andy Barr is also the only candidate with the resources, grassroots support, and momentum to put this Senate race away for Republicans,” campaign spokesman Alex Bellizzi said in a statement obtained by the DCNF. “Now is the time to unite behind Andy Barr to be Kentucky’s America First Senator.”

Barr announced his run to succeed retiring Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell in April. Though Republicans are expected to hold the open seat, the primary contest between Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris could be a bitter, drawn-out fight.

Trump has yet to weigh in on the contest, and all three GOP candidates are angling for his support. Barr’s pitch is centered around his votes in the House to enact Trump’s policies and his 2018 victory over failed Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath, who declared a run for the open seat on Monday.

“Andy Barr is the only candidate to have won tough races and helped President Trump implement the America First Agenda,” Bellizzi said.

Barr has secured endorsements from more than 50 current and former officials, including two Republican senators — Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Ted Budd of North Carolina — and two members of House GOP leadership.

Nineteen members of the Kentucky state legislature, women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines and a prominent firefighters union have also publicly backed Barr’s Senate run.

Though Cameron has led in early polling on the three-way contest, Barr is within striking distance of supplanting him, according to September polling commissioned by a Keep America Great PAC, an outside spending group supporting Barr’s run.

Cameron, who likely benefits from high name recognition due to previous statewide runs, led the field with support from 37% of likely GOP voters, followed by Barr with 29% support and Morris, who drew 8% support. The pro-Barr group said an earlier poll it conducted in June had Cameron’s vote share at 51%, arguing that Cameron is bleeding support due to a lack of enthusiasm for his campaign.

Barr significantly outraised Cameron at the end of June with the former reporting a $1.4 million haul and the latter just $532,000. Morris, who entered the race in July, did not have to file a mid-year campaign finance report.

Cameron and Morris have yet to announce their third quarter fundraising numbers.

The Barr-aligned group began airing negative messaging against Morris as part of a $750,000 ad buy on Wednesday.

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