BY WESLEY P. HESTER

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen had his strongest fundraising quarter to date, bringing in $2 million from April through July.

But the haul is still $1 million shy of Democratic candidate Timothy M. Kaine’s second quarter total, marking the fifth consecutive quarter that Kaine has outraised Allen.

Allen has more than $3.3 million in his war chest to Kaine’s $2.7 million, but that’s because Kaine’s camp has shelled out $3.5 million for TV advertising this fall.

Allen’s campaign has reserved $3 million in air time also, but has not yet paid.

“Each day people from every region of Virginia are joining our dedicated grassroots team, and we’re encouraged by the strong growth in supporters who gave us our largest fundraising quarter of the campaign,” Allen said.

Since entering the race early last year, Allen has raised roughly $8.3 million and Kaine has brought in $10.4 million.