ABC News’ John R. Parkinson reports:

Tea Party-backed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, raised an extraordinary $5.4 million in the third quarter, possibly smashing a congressional fundraising record for a three-month period while pushing her total fundraising haul for this election cycle to almost $10 million. 

Although Federal Election Commission financial disclosure reports are not due until October 15, Bachmann press secretary Sergio Gor confirmed to ABC News late Tuesday evening that Bachmann raked in the incredible loot in the months of July, August and September. Gor said he expected Bachmann to report that she has about $3.4 million cash-on-hand in her campaign war chest.

“I am so grateful to the more than 80,000 people who have contributed to my campaign this quarter,”  Bachmann said in a statement Wednesday. “Their support is truly overwhelming and I am blessed to havetheir support in my campaign to represent Minnesota.”

More than 100,000 contributions were in amounts of $100 or less, giving Bachmann an average contribution of less than $50, according to Gor.

Bachmann’s challenger Tarryl Clark, a state senator from St. Cloud, has also enjoyed great success fundraising for the sixth district seat in what is likely the most expensive match-up among House races nationwide. Clark’s efforts have been bolstered by campaign events with Vice President Joe Biden and former president Bill Clinton. Another event with President Obama is planned before the November 2 midterm congressional election. 

Bachmann, a two-term lawmaker from Stillwater, has worked to expose Clark’s prominent campaign surrogates in order to motivate her own supporters into donating towards the Bachmann campaign.

As of July 21, Bachmann had raised a total of $4.5 million and spent $2.1 million in the 2009-2010 election cycle. Clark has not reported her third quarter fundraising totals, but had raised about $2.4 million through July 21, with about $800,000 left in the bank.

Here is an interview George Stephanopoulos did with Bachman in July regarding unemployment benefits: