By Todd Mason Inquirer Staff Writer

Tapping a network of Democrats sensing an upset in Delaware County's congressional race, challenger Joe Sestak was able to raise more money in the last three months than his opponent, U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon.

The retired Navy admiral, a political novice, took in $700,000 in the quarter that ended June 30, his campaign staff said yesterday.

By contrast, Weldon raised $400,000, said the Republican's campaign manager, Michael V. Puppio Jr.

Sestak has now raised a total of $1.1 million since he entered the race.

"For a first-time candidate, it is very unusual to raise that kind of money, particularly against a longtime incumbent," said Amy Walter, a senior editor at the Cook Political Report in Washington.

Weldon, who has served 19 years in Congress, isn't minimizing the challenge, Puppio said yesterday. "A funded candidate is always a formidable candidate," he said.

Democrats are also targeting U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.), who represents portions of Chester, Montgomery and Berks Counties, and U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), a freshman who represents Bucks County and a sliver of Philadelphia, said G. Terry Madonna, a pollster at Franklin and Marshall College.

"Democrats are excited about their chances," Madonna said. "They are going to pour a ton of resources into these races."

Gerlach's challenger, Democrat Lois Murphy, said yesterday that her campaign raised $740,000 in the three months that ended June 30, leaving her with $1.4 million on hand. She lost a close race to Gerlach in 2004.

"He outspent us," said Mark Nevins, a Murphy spokesman. "He is not going to have that extra leverage this time." A spokesman for Gerlach did not return a telephone call, but the Associated Press reported that Gerlach raised about $453,000 during the period, and had $1.3 million cash on hand.

Campaign finance reports are officially due at the Federal Election Commission on Saturday.

This may be the first time that Weldon has faced a challenger able to match him in campaign spending.

"For most of Weldon's challengers over the years, to call them underfunded would be an understatement," said Neil Oxman, president of the Campaign Group in Philadelphia.

"For all intents and purposes, Sestak will have parity," Oxman said.

Paul Scoles, an Ardmore physician, raised $24,000 in his bid against Weldon in 2004. Weldon raised $895,000.

Money "enables you to buy TV," he said. "TV brings you exposure," added Scoles, who won 40 percent of the vote.

Sestak's campaign has "nearly $1 million" on hand after raising the $1.1 million in five months, said spokesman Ryan Rudominer.

Puppio said Weldon has $1.14 million in cash - and motivation. "Congressman Weldon has run hard" from the start of the campaign, he said. "He will continue to run hard."

Rudominer said that Pennsylvanians accounted for 52 percent of Sestak's contributors and 60 percent of the money raised in the second quarter.

Sestak will put the money to work in "a ground war and later in an air war," said Rudominer, who left his job as press aide to U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D., N.Y.) to join Sestak.

Sestak last month also brought in retired Navy Capt. Bill Walsh, who grew up in Upper Darby, to head the campaign.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, counts the Seventh District race as one of the 30 most competitive House races, but added: "The probability is always with the incumbent."