U.S. Sen. Richard Burr has $1.6 million on hand.

According to campaign finance report filed recently, the Winston-Salem Republican received $699,591 in contributions and spent $107,692 during the most recent quarter, Barb Barrett reports.

Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report, said the cash on hand was "perfectly acceptable" for Burr, who is running for re-election in 2010.

"Are they the kind of numbers that would scare the likes of a Roy Cooper out of the race? No," she said. "But to have $1.6 million in the bank is a pretty good start."

Update: Cooper's most recent state campaign finance report, filed in December, showed him with $366,994 in cash on hand.

National Democrats, already spending nearly $1 million on an ad against Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, apparently plan to spend an additional $7 million after Labor Day.

"I don't think anybody's been targeted that much," Dole aide Brian Nick said during a Charlotte appearance with the senator today, Jim Morrill reports.

Nick said the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has reserved $7.3 million of airtime in North Carolina after Labor Day. The DSCC already has spent about $800,000 on an ad that calls Dole ineffective. DSCC spokesman Matt Miller would not confirm the amounts.

The money would help Dole's Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kay Hagan. Hagan reported having raised around $3 million through June to Dole's $8.4 million.

Jennifer Duffy, an analyst with the Washington-based Cook Political Report, said the $7 million figure may be inflated. But it still suggests Democrats plan to make an impact in the race.

"If I'm Senator Dole I'd be worried about the money the DSCC is going to spend, whether it's $3 million or $7 million," she said.

Dole spoke to the Charlotte Chamber this morning and later toured Johnson C. Smith University.

The Cook Political Report says the Senate race is more competitive.

The nonpartisan analysts previously ranked the race between U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and state sen. Kay Hagan as "solid Republican," but it has changed its rating to "likely Republican" this week.

"In their effort to put more Senate races in play, Democrats have turned their attention to North Carolina and GOP incumbent Elizabeth Dole," writes senior editor Jennifer Duffy.

Hat Tip: Ed Cone