Boxer has $7.2 million for reelection

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Far outpacing the Republican candidates who are trying to unseat her, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer announced Tuesday that she has $7.2 million in the bank to spend on her reelection effort.

The war chest will give Boxer an edge competing in what many believe could be her hardest fight since she was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992. Three Republicans are vying for the right to face Boxer in November, and one candidate, former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina, is a wealthy businesswoman who has already lent her two-month-old campaign $2.5 million.

‘We’ve been preparing for a tough race and our supporters really came through for us,’ said Rose Kapolczynski, Boxer’s campaign manager, in a statement. ‘With this broad base of support, I’m confident we will have the resources we need to win in November.’

The three-term senator’s campaign raised $5.9 million from 43,000 donors in 2009. Boxer faces no Democratic opponent so she can save her money for the general election.

[Updated at 6 p.m. ‘According to her report, she raised $5.9 million in the 12 months in 2009. We raised $1.2 million in 50 days. We have over $2.5 million cash on hand,’ Fiorina said. ‘I feel like we’re doing really well against Barbara Boxer in the fundraising arena.’]

A spokeswoman for Fiorina’s campaign said the fundraising numbers would not be enough to help Boxer. ‘ ‘No matter how much money Boxer has squirreled away from her special-interest donors, she has an uphill battle coming this year, and she’s politically vulnerable just by virtue of her ballot designation: incumbent,’ said Fiorina spokeswoman Julie Soderlund.

Three GOP candidates are competing for their party’s nod in a race that is drawing national interest. Counting the loan, Fiorina has $2.7 million in the bank, and Assemblyman Chuck Devore has roughly $140,000, according to their campaigns. Former Rep. Tom Campbell dropped his gubernatorial bid and entered the senate race last week, so his financial condition is unclear. But his fundraising against two rich candidates in the governor’s race was lackluster.

Further details about the candidates’ fundraising and spending will become clear when they file mandatory financial reports with the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31.

-- Seema Mehta