House Race Hotline Update: FEC Spotlight

Today we're spotlighting new 1stQ fundraising numbers for open-seat races. Some highlights:

-- Elwyn Tinklenberg (D), who led fundraising last quarter, raised the least ($65K) among major-party contenders in MN 06. '04 nominee Patty Wetterling's (D) entrance is partly to blame for drying up his coffers. She raised $220K this quarter and now leads him with $168K CoH.

-- GOPers got to a slow start fundraising in AZ 08. Ex-state Sen. Gabrielle Giffords (D) and TV anchor Patty Weiss (D) both outdistanced the leading GOPer, ex-AZ GOP Chair Mike Hellon.

-- Lots of money is pouring into VT this cycle. State Sen. Peter Welch (D) banked $262K and now has the Dems' third-highest CoH among open seat candidates. Adj Gen Martha Rainville (R) raised $233K, but almost half of it ($112K) came from PACs.

-- One of the more surprising figures this cycle comes from MD 03, where physician Gary Applebaum (R) raised about $135K without contributing any of his own money. The CD voted for Ehrlich in '02. Could Applebaum be a sleeper to watch? [JOSH KRAUSHAAR]