NASHVILLE (AP) – Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander has raised more than $900,000 in the second quarter and has more than $3.4 million on hand in the final weeks before the primary.

Alexander's campaign is also launching a new television ad stressing the senator's opposition to President Barack Obama's health care law.

The former two-term governor is running for a third term this year, and faces tea party-styled opposition in the GOP primary from state Rep. Joe Carr of Murfreesboro and Memphis radio station owner George Flinn.

Carr this week challenged the incumbent to a series of debates before the Aug. 7 primary, but Alexander as shown little interest. Early voting begins July 18.

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