Just as he did in his 2006 governor’s race, Gov. Charlie Crist has pulled in a stunning fundraising total to open his campaign for the U.S. Senate, $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2009.

The announcement follows leaks from close Crist advisers saying he would announce more than $3 million. Of course, those leaks weren’t inaccurate, but obviously understated things.

In 2005, Crist’s record-breaking fundraising total of $3.8 million in his first full quarter as a candidate for governor shocked his Republican primary opponent, Tom Gallagher. Gallagher had boasted of his own big haul, $3.1 million, only to find it eclipsed by Crist’s even huger haul.

Crist and his Senate primary opponent, Marco Rubio, both announced their candidacies in May, so both had to report totals of money they raised in less than a full three-month reporting period. Rubio, who announced May 6, reported raising $340,000.

Crist has been on a fundraising rampage, all across Florida and in Washington and Atlanta, since his announcement May 12.

His total exceeds what his likely Democratic general election opponent, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, raised for the entire year, plus what Meek
had left over from his previous House campaigns. For Meek, those leftovers plus the first two quarters of 2009 added up to just over $3 million.

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