U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey announced today that his campaign has raised more than $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2009.

To date, the campaign has raised more than $3.1 million from more than 20,000 contributors since Toomey announced his Senate candidacy five-and-a-half months ago, according to the Toomey for Senate Campaign.

Toomey already has 33 percent more contributors than the total number of donors amassed during the entirety of his 2004 Senate run, the campaign reports.

The most recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Toomey leading both incumbent Democratic Senator Arlen Specter and Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak in general election matchups.

"I am honored by the thousands of people who have contributed to my campaign," Toomey said in a press release. "People all across Pennsylvania are rallying to our message of fiscal responsibility and political balance. They are concerned about the reckless bailouts, extreme policies, and out-of-control debt resulting from one-party control of Washington, and they believe that the country deserves better than that. Together, I believe we will win the fight for fiscal sanity, responsible government, and economic growth."

For more about Toomey, visit his campaign Web site at www.toomeyforsenate.com