JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill enjoyed a strong fundraising effort to start 2012.

McCaskill’s campaign told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she raised $2.3 million from January through March and ended the quarter with about $6 million in her account.

The Democratic incumbent will face the winner of an August Republican primary that features former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin and businessman John Brunner. Federal candidates are required to report their quarterly finance figures by Sunday.

McCaskill’s campaign spent about $1 million during the first three months of 2012, as she began airing ads to counter commercials against her by the Republican Party and political interest groups.

Her campaign says the vast majority of McCaskill’s contributors gave less than $200 each.

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