Rep. Jerry Moran ended March with more than twice the Senate campaign funds of his opponent, fellow Kansas Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt.

With $2.92 million in his Senate campaign account as of March 31, Moran boasts a significant advantage over Tiahrt’s $1.3 million in cash on hand.

Moran also raised more than Tiahrt in the first few months of the campaign, raking in $522,500 since he filed to run for Senate. Tiahrt brought in $390,600 so far in his campaign for statewide office.

But the bulk of Moran’s money comes from the $2.4 million that he transferred from his House account. Moran represented the most conservative district in Kansas and never had a competitive general election, allowing him to stockpile cash over the course of his seven elections. Tiahrt, who has won re-election eight times, transferred just more than $1 million from his former House account.

Moran also spent more than his Kansas colleague in the last few months — about $140,800 in expenses. Tiahrt has spent about $100,000 since he started his campaign, according to campaign spokesman Josh Bell.

Tiahrt and Moran are running for retiring Sen. Sam Brownback’s (R-Kan.) seat. Brownback is stepping down to run for governor in 2010.

Democrats had hoped that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) would run for the seat in 2010, but she has been nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, and assuming that post would likely preclude her from a campaign. As a result, the winner in the Republican primary will most likely be the next Senator from Kansas.