Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) enjoyed her most successful fundraising quarter ever in the wake of the controversy surrounding a negative campaign ad by her Republican opponent, former Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra.

According to Stabenow's re-election campaign, the senator raised $1.5 million during the first three months of 2012. The surge in donations was attributed to a Super Bowl ad released by Hoekstra's campaign, which featured a Chinese-American actress speaking broken English, thanking "Debbie Spend-it-Now" for helping send American jobs to China.

The ad was widely criticized as racially insensitive, and Hoekstra's campaign website eventually removed it.

"When Hoekstra and out-of-state interest groups launched ridiculous negative attacks, people in Michigan responded forcefully with an outpouring of support that gave Debbie her best fundraising quarter ever," Stabenow spokesman Nate Byer said in a statement to the Detroit News.

Stabenow has enjoyed a comfortable lead over Hoekstra in most recent polls.

Watch the ad below.

10 more election stories from beyond the presidential field:

Iowa Congressman King Faces Protestors And Calls Ames Ground Zero: [Patch.com]

Mack Raises $1 Million In First Quarter [Post on Politics]

Illinois GOP Congressman Will Not Seek Re-Election [Progress Illinois]

Jennifer Brunner, Another Union Endorse Redfern Opponent For Dem Chair [The Columbus Dispatch]

Former Bush Campaign Chief, Now A Supporter Of Gay Rights, To Host Fundraiser For Richard Tisei [Boston Globe]

Connie Mack Camp: We're Beating George LeMieux In Money, Message And Polls [The Miami Herald]

Tenn. GOP Chairman's Statement On Democrat Gary Moore's Decision Not To Seek Re-Election [TNGOP.org]

Bartlett Sees Similarities With Democratic Challenger In 6th District [Gazette.net]

Senate Candidates Spar Over Conservative Credentials [Philadelphia Daily News]

GOP Rep. Tim Johnson Drops Re-Election Bid [Associated Press]