[img_assist|nid=1753|title=Bidlack talks to supporters|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=130|height=173]Fifth Congressional District Democratic candidate Hal Bidlack raised $102,703 in the second quarter of 2008 -- the most ever raised by a CO-5 Democratic candidate through June.

That also beats all previous quarterly fundraising by any of the three Republican candidates in the CO-5 race, though none of them have yet reported their second-quarter numbers.

Bidlack, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, will report having $77,372 cash-on-hand at the end of the second quarter, said spokesperson Robby Noble. That's another record for a CO-5 Democrat, Noble said.

More than half the second-quarter haul was raised during the last two weeks of the quarter, a Bidlack press release stated. Ninety-nine percent of contributors were individuals, and 86 percent of donations were less than $250, the release stated.

"We are really starting to pick up steam," Bidlack said in the statement. "(2006 CO-5 Democratic nominee) Jay Fawcett ran a groundbreaking campaign, but I am proud to say that we're doing better financially then he was at the same point. People are excited about the possibility for true change."

The three Republican candidates in the race -- U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs), former congressional aide Jeff Crank, and retired Air Force Major General Bentley Rayburn -- have until July 15 to turn in their second-quarter fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission.

The previous high for quarterly fundraising in the 2008 CO-5 race was $90,539 raised by Rayburn in the fourth quarter of 2007.

However, all three GOP candidates had more cash-on-hand at the end of 1Q 2008 than Bidlack is reporting at the end of the second quarter.