Congressman Jim Gerlach sitting on $1.5M war chest

Why is this man smiling?

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach announced today he has raised $1.53 million for his reelection bid. That includes more than $420,000 in campaign contributions during the first reporting period of 2008.

This is not good news for Gerlach's opponent, Bob Roggio, who not only has few issues to run on (the Iraq War and George W. Bush were 2006 issues, Bob) but Roggio has a long way to go to catch up to Gerlach's war chest.

Roggio, a liberal with limited political experience, emerged as the Democratic Party challenger after nine other potential candidates passed on the race, according to the Gerlach camp.

Gerlach is seeking his fourth two-year term in Congress, representing Pennsylvania's 6th District in Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Lehigh counties.

"After three highly competitive elections and a surge in Democratic voter registrations, our campaign knows we cannot take a single thing for granted," Gerlach said in a statement. "We have a full campaign staff, our fundraising is now kicking into high gear and we are readying for another tough election battle. Our fundraising totals this quarter are a reflection of that."

Gerlach was one of the few GOP members in Congress from Pennsylvania who survived the grueling 2006 campaign, which saw Democrats take control of the House after 12 years in GOP control.

Gerlach is a moderate Republican who has shown an independent streak in Washington and continues to be popular with constituents, which explains why he was reelected to a third term despite a wave of Democratic upsets across the country in 2006.

Because of the earlier Pennsylvania Primary Election this year, the Federal Election Commission's first reporting period covers two extra days of fundraising, from January 1 through April 2, according to the Gerlach campaign.

In 2006, as one of the primary Democratic targets in the country, Gerlach raised $266,000 during the January 1-March 31 fundraising period, his campaign says.

For more about Gerlach, visit his campaign Web site, http://www.jimgerlachforcongress.com/