Oxendine raises $870,000 in 2 months

ATLANTA - Republican John Oxendine has $1.8 million in the bank heading into the homestretch in the primary race for governor.

Oxendine - the state's insurance commissioner and the GOP money leader - reported on Wednesday that he raised just under $870,000 in two months.

The reporting period covers April, May and June. But Oxendine was barred from raising money for most of April because the Legislature was in session.

Oxendine has raised the most of any GOP candidate in the seven-person race. He has been outpaced only by Democrat Roy Barnes, who has yet to post his latest totals.

Oxendine's campaign noted that he still had $1.8 million in the bank even after paying for two weeks of aggressive advertising.

Campaign finance disclosures were due by midnight on Thursday.