Peters raises $650,000, and he's ahead in the polls

If I were a betting man, given Peters' fundraising numbers and the tightness of the polls, Knollenberg will show up at the forum with Peters this week. Knollenberg hasn't had a real debate with an opponent in a while and he has never had a public forum with voters to answer questions about his votes.

Peters' camp raises $650,000

Two polls, one conducted by Democrat's campaign, show him neck-and-neck with Rep. Knollenberg.

Deb Price / Detroit News Washington Bureau

Democrat Gary Peters' campaign said Thursday he raised more than $650,000 from mid-July through September in his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg in one of the nation's most closely watched congressional races.

And two new polls out Thursday, one by Michigan-based Mitchell Research & Communications and one by the Peters campaign, show the contest is up for grabs with Election Day four weeks off.

Campaign finance statements are due next week, but Peters' aides announced his fundraising results early.

"We'll come out really strong. It's our strongest quarter yet," said campaign manager Julie Ann Petrick. Click here for the rest of the story.