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Thune Has $10.4 Million In Bank For Likely 2016 Senate Bid

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune has nearly $10.4 million in the bank for his likely bid for a third Senate term in 2016.

Thune’s campaign announced Wednesday the Republican lawmaker’s first-quarter haul was roughly $793,000 and that he is sitting on $10.37 million.

Campaign manager Joshua Shields says the camp is pleased with the fundraising pace for the quarter, which ran between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2015.

Shields says it’s unclear when a formal re-election announcement will come.

South Dakota Democratic Party chairwoman Ann Tornberg says the party is working to recruit a candidate to run against Thune.

He ran unopposed for his second term in 2010.

Tornberg says $10.4 million is a formidable war chest, but she says the party hopes a candidate will emerge soon.