We don’t know yet what incumbent Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has raised, and we’ll assume he’s done much more to raise money than he did last year, when all he raised was $38,000.

But we already know that Landry had put a fundraising lead together on Caldwell, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if today’s news means that lead has grown. From a press release…

LAFAYETTE, LA – The son of middle class parents, former law enforcement officer, and conservative Congressman – Jeff Landry will file a campaign finance report today noting he has raised a total of $1,208,721 from individuals and organizations for his campaign to-date as he works to serve as Louisiana’s next Attorney General.

He will report he has nearly $1.3 million ($1,272,251) in the bank, cash-on-hand, for the campaign.

“We still have a long way to go but I am heartened by the overwhelming support I am receiving from Louisianans,” said Jeff Landry. “People want an honest, effective, ethical, and conservative Attorney General. That is what I will bring as our next Attorney General.”

From January 1st until the cutoff on April 17th, Jeff Landry’s campaign raised $442,085. A successful small businessman and attorney, Jeff Landry has also made a net of $350,000 in loans to the campaign demonstrating a personal commitment to the race.

Landry has received numerous endorsements including those of Congressman John Fleming and the last winner of the Louisiana President Primary and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Landry also has received praise from Senator David Vitter who noted he would be a great Attorney General. U.S. Senator, and Presidential Candidate, Rand Paul also sent a note to his large Facebook audience announcing his support for Jeff Landry.

“The endorsement I really want is that of the people at the ballot box this October,” said Jeff Landry. “I believe in public service and I look forward to working hard as our next Attorney General.”

Landry’s prospects for victory continue to look promising. Two developments – one based in action and one in inaction – have bolstered his odds. First, there was the decision by state treasurer John Kennedy to seek re-election to his current job and not get into the AG race, likely as a precursor to Kennedy making a third run at the U.S. Senate next year in the event David Vitter wins the governor’s race.

And the second development is actually not a development at all but the absence of one; namely, today is the reporting deadline for the 1st quarter of Louisiana campaign fundraising, and there is still no Democrat in the Attorney General race. There was a wide rumor of Alexandria mayor Jacques Roy as a candidate, but so far that hasn’t materialized. And Roy is the only name of any prominence mentioned for the race on the Democrat side.

At the moment, it’s Landry and Caldwell, with West Baton Rouge prosecutor Marty Maley, running as an independent, essentially standing in as a Democrat. Nobody gives Maley much of a chance in the race.

UPDATE: Caldwell just released his numbers, and they don’t indicate a change in his fortunes.

In the first quarter, the incumbent reports raising $369,000. That brings his campaign total to date up to $408,000 and his cash on hand, including what he had left over from last cycle, to $617,000. Landry has a substantial lead in all three categories.