By JAMES HOHMANN, POLITICO – Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) raised more than $1.6 million in the first three months of the year, ending the quarter with $2.7 million cash on hand.

Hagan will be a top target of national Republicans next year. She represents one of seven Democratic-held seats that Mitt Romney carried last November. But while she has no clear frontrunning Republican opponent at this point, she’s geared up early — building a staff and activating a grassroots network.

“Senator Hagan’s strong fundraising quarter shows that she is building the grassroots momentum from all across North Carolina that elected her in 2008 and that will re-elect her in 2014,” Preston Elliott, Hagan’s campaign manager, said in a statement shared early with POLITICO. “These resources will help ensure that Kay’s message and strong record of results for North Carolina’s seniors, students and veterans reach every corner of the state as she continues her work to get the economy back on track and grow jobs.”

via Kay Hagan raises $1.6M – POLITICO.com.