NEW: Hinckley Raises Over $300k in First Quarter

NEW: Hinckley Raises Over $300k in First Quarter

Republican Senate candidate Barry Hinckley raised over $300,000 during the first quarter of 2012, the campaign said Thursday.

A campaign press release called the fundraising total “one of the best first quarter hauls of any GOP candidate in the state’s history. “

"I am proud of my team and our efforts to meet this extraordinary goal and am honored by the support we received. This quarter puts us in rare company as one of the strongest fundraising GOP campaigns in Rhode Island’s history. This support is a clear endorsement of our jobs message. It is imperative to get Rhode Islanders back to work" said Hinckley.

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Hinckley is challenging Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who had more than $3 million in his war chest as of Dec. 31.