SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley continues to lead Steve Novick in the race for cash in their testy contest for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.

Figures released by Merkley's campaign show he received $455,000 in the first quarter of the year.

That brings his total fundraising to $1.3 million.

Novick got $346,000 in the first quarter. That pushes his total to $893,000.

Merkley and Novick are battling for the chance to take on Republican Senator Gordon Smith.

He's raised $8.3 million.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)