Blum has $1 million cash advantage in Iowa 1st District race

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. House 1st District challenger Monica Vernon has outraised Rep. Rod Blum in five straight quarters, but the Dubuque Republican enjoys a $1 million cash-on-hand advantage.

Blum announced Friday his campaign has raised more than $1.67 million this election cycle, including $294,000 in the May-to-June reporting period. That boosts his total fundraising to $1.486 million, with $1.44 million cash on hand.

Vernon's fundraising has topped $1.6 million, but she reported $354,000 cash on hand following her primary election contest.

In reporting his fundraising numbers, Blum again challenged Vernon to 10 debates across the 20-county northeast Iowa district that includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Dubuque and Marshalltown.

The campaign should not be just about raising money, said Jeff Patch, the campaign's communications director, 'but also about a direct exchange of ideas between the candidates.”