Minnesota's Senate race gets increasingly costly
by The Associated Press

ST. PAUL -- The race between Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken is shaping up to be expensive.

Monday is the deadline for collecting second quarter campaign contributions, and Franken and Coleman have both been trying to collect cash.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports that Minnesota's Senate race leads the nation in campaign money, with a total of more than $27 million raised. That includes money raised by Mike Ciresi, who dropped out months ago.

Minnesota Senate campaigns previously had a spending record of about $25.5 million.

At the end of March, Coleman had $13.1 million to Franken's $9.35 million in money raised.