Former Rep. Rob Portman (R) will start his campaign for retiring Sen. George Voinovich’s (R-Ohio) seat with a huge advantage over his opponents, reporting more than $3.1 million in the bank, including $1.7 million raised in the first quarter of 2009.

In an e-mail to campaign supporters Saturday, Portman announced he has raised $1.7 million from when the time he announced his bid earlier this year through March 30. The one-time director of the Office and of Management and Budget will also transfer about $1.4 million from an old campaign account.

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D), who is also seeking the seat, announced earlier this week that he has raised about $1.1 million so far.

The other leading Democratic candidate, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, has not released her fundraising totals yet. The deadline to report first-quarter fundraising to the Federal Election Committee is April 15.