From left, Weston Wamp, Scottie Mayfield, Chuck Fleischmann

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann finished the most recent fundraising period with a big lead over his two most formidable opponents.

In campaign disclosures submitted to the Federal Election Commission late Sunday, Fleischmann reported $730,538 in available campaign cash; Weston Wamp reported $340,336; and Scottie Mayfield reported $218,638.

The numbers document total contributions minus expenses after the year's second fundraising quarter, which spanned April 1 to June 30.

The cash-on-hand figures offer an updated picture of each candidate's finances heading into the final stretch of Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Republican primary. Most of the money for Fleischmann, Mayfield and Wamp is designated for Aug. 2 primary election campaign, not the Nov. 6 general election.

In terms of momentum, Mayfield suffered a blow. After setting a quarterly fundraising record with $450,000 raised in his first seven weeks as a candidate, the Athens, Tenn., dairy executive raised 40 percent of that - $182,696 - between April 1 and June 30.

Relying heavily on political action committees, Fleischmann stayed even with what he raised last quarter - $200,000 - while Wamp raised $125,058, or about $50,000 less than his haul between Jan. 1 and March 31.

Meanwhile, the Democrats in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District race appear to be operating in a completely different financial sphere. Chattanooga Democrat Bill Taylor finished the most recent quarter with $1,418 on hand.

New figures for Republican Ron Bhalla and Democrat Mary Headrick were unavailable Monday morning.

Headrick reported $3,703 on hand as of March 31, and Bhalla reported $1,310 at the same point.

Independent candidate Matthew Deniston has yet to file a financial disclosure.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.