$28K for Nelson in first quarter

Stace Nelson raised $28,414 for his U.S. Senate campaign in the first three months of 2014, an aide said Wednesday.

Nelson now has $33,432 in the bank and no debt. That's almost identical to the $33,745 Nelson had at the end of the year.

The total represents the third consecutive quarter of declining fundraising for Nelson even as the June primary approaches. Nelson's rival Larry Rhoden has also seen his fundraising decline each quarter, and took in just $16,000 from January through March.

Meanwhile frontrunner Mike Rounds, who had his best quarter in the beginning of 2014, taking in $730,000. Rounds has more than $1 million in the bank. Independent Larry Pressler raised just under $10,000 for the quarter.

U.S. Senate candidates Annette Bosworth, Jason Ravnsborg and Rick Weiland have yet to announce their first-quarter fundraising. Independent Gordon Howie entered the race after the end of the first quarter.

Here's a spreadsheet comparing fundraising performances from a variety of South Dakota candidates.

UPDATE: It is worth noting that both Nelson and Rhoden spent a majority of the past quarter fulfilling their duties in the South Dakota Legislature.