Democrats Joe Sestak and Lois Murphy are gaining on their opponents, campaign finance reports show. Sestak, challenging Rep. Curt Weldon (R), raised $700,000 in the past quarter. Weldon raised only $400,000. Weldon’s 2004 Democratic challenger raised $24,000. Sestak has “nearly $1 million” on hand, according to his spokesman. Weldon has $1.14 million. "For a first-time candidate, it is very unusual to raise that kind of money, particularly against a longtime incumbent," Amy Walter, senior editor at the Cook Political Report told the Inquirer.

Murphy, challenging Rep. Jim Gerlach (R), has raised $740,000 in the past three months while Gerlach raised $453,000. She now holds $1.4 million; he holds $1.3 million. President Bush held a fundraiser for Gerlach on May 24 that brought in $150,000 of that money. “There are more statewide Republicans running for office this year than in most years, so fundraising has become a lot of tougher for Republicans in Pennsylvania this year,” Mark Campbell, Gerlach’s political director said.