BOISE — Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and his challenger Bryan Smith are touting their respective hauls in the traditional campaign funding drag race that each claims illustrates his strength as a candidate.

Smith announced Tuesday he’d banked more than $275,000 in three months through Sept. 30, boosting reserves to more than $300,000.

Smith, aiming to oust Simpson in the Republican primary next May for the 2nd Congressional District seat, touted his fundraising performance as better than past Simpson challengers.

Hours later, Simpson’s campaign parried Smith’s fundraising salvo, announcing he would report $437,000 raised in the quarter and over $600,000 cash-on-hand come Oct. 15, the deadline for Federal Election Commission filings.

Smith said he was thankful for the “overwhelming support,” while Simpson, an eight-term congressman from Blackfoot, said he had “strong momentum.”