Todd Akin (PolticMo Photo)

– Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin’s campaign will report $1.18 million in their campaign bank account, as the congressman kicks off his campaign for the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Akin raised $511,610.08 in the second quarter of this year, in addition to more than the $900,000 he transferred from his congressional campaign account. Since April, Akin has spent $237,950.18, nearly 40 percent of what he raised in the same time period.

Akin launched his Senate campaign in May, entering a Republican primary campaign against former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. Steelman raised just under $200,000 in the first quarter, but has not released her second quarter numbers.

Missouri Democrats report McCaskill raised $1.4 million, adding up to some $3 million on hand.