WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson is continuing to handily outraise his Republican opponent in the November election, reporting more than $5.1 million raised since he was last elected in 2002.

The South Dakota senator raised $560,000 between April and the end of June, ending that quarter with $2.7 million on hand.

Republican Joel Dykstra raised about $176,000 during those three months, with $96,000 of that raised after he won the Republican nomination June 3. He has raised a total of around $380,000.

Dykstra is not as well known as the two-term senator, and Johnson has been considered the favorite in the race. But the Republican has crossed the state campaigning and has insisted he will run a vigorous campaign.

Johnson suffered a serious brain hemorrhage in December 2006 and did not return to the Senate until September of the next year. But his absence did not impede his fundraising, as several of his Democratic colleagues held fundraisiers for him while he was gone.