Rep. Jerry Moran out-raised fellow Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt by about $130,000 in the first three months of the year, as the two seek the GOP nomination to replace Sen. Sam Brownback in the 2010 election.

Moran, of Hays who represents the state’s massive first district, was able to bring in $522,000 in campaign contributions during the last quarter, and his campaign is touting an advantage in cash-on-hand.

Tiahrt, who represents the Wichita area and south-central Kansas in the House, according to his campaign raised $390,000 during that same quarter.

“Having launched my campaign for Senate less than three months ago, I am pleased with the overwhelming support I am getting from Kansans all across the state,” Tiahrt said in a statement. “With nearly $400,000 raised in the first quarter, we are closing the generosity gap. We are on schedule to raise every dollar needed to help carry our message to voters in Kansas and win the election in 2010.”

As far as the each campaign’s cash totals, they include how much each candidate has raised as House members — Moran ended the quarter with $2.9 million and Tiahrt had about $1.3 million.

The winner of the GOP primary figures to be the favorite to win the Senate seat to replace Brownback, who has already announced his plans to run for governor.