With less than a month until Election Day, Democrat U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas has built a sizable fund-raising lead over Republican challenger Geoff Davis.

Mr. Lucas of Boone County, who is seeking a third term Nov. 5, has raised $1.1 million and had $623,772 cash on hand, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

Mr. Davis, also of Boone County, has raised $604,686 and had $299,443 in cash, according to his report.

The reports reflected the amount of money raised and cash on hand through Sept. 30.

The Lucas camp claimed a “massive fund-raising advantage,” in a statement released Tuesday."I am very pleased with the success we are having raising funds from individuals and groups across the 4th Congressional District,” Mr. Lucas said in the statement. “I believe my conservative voting record and hard work in Congress reflects the values and concerns of working families across Kentucky."

Mr. Lucas said he is on pace to raise $1.5 million, more than he raised in his 1998 win over Gex Williams of Boone County and his 2000 victory over Don Bell of Oldham County.

Marc Wilson, a Boone County GOP political consultant advising the Davis campaign, said Mr. Davis is not concerned or surprised Mr. Lucas has more money.

“Ken Lucas is an incumbent, and incumbents are always going to get a certain amount of money simply because they are incumbents,” Mr. Wilson said. “We're going to have the money we need to get the message out doing the last weeks of this campaign. ...

“Besides, this race isn't about money, it's about ideas, and Geoff Davis has the ideas people in the 4th District want to hear and see implemented in Congress,” Mr. Wilson said.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com