Sen. Mark Warner's War Chest at More Than $7.1 Million

Anyone thinking of challenging U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) may be sizing up his war chest: As of Friday it's at more than $7.1 million after an infusion of nearly $1.6 million in the last quarter of 2013, according to a news release from his campaign.

Is there a challenger in site? The National Journal, in a Dec. 31 article, mentions Ed Gillespie. The Washington Post says it probably won't happen.

Friends of Mark Warner, the 2014 campaign of Warner, announced its year-end fundraising numbers Friday.

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the campaign received contributions totaling nearly $1.6 million. Friends of Mark Warner ended 2013 with more than $7.1 million cash-on-hand.

“I am grateful for the strong support we are receiving from so many Virginians," Warner said. "I am confident we will have the resources to demonstrate our solid base of support as we build a winning 2014 campaign effort.“ 

Warner, a Virginia business leader and entrepreneur, served as governor of Virginia from 2002-2006. During his four-year term as governor, the Warner Administration attracted 135,000 new jobs to the Commonwealth, and Virginia was honored as the country’s Best Managed State, the Best State for Business, and the Best State for Educational Opportunities. 

Elected to the U.S. Senate during the 2008 recession, Warner had a role in enacting bipartisan Wall Street reforms. Widely viewed as a consensus-builder in Congress, Warner has worked for greater fiscal accountability. Warner is a champion for Virginia’s small businesses, and remains a strong advocate for Virginia’s military men and women, veterans and their families.

Warner is often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, and was even mentioned in this Associated Press article Friday in the Chattanooga Times.