WASHINGTON — The Democrats’ national fundraising organizations have become a silver lining for a beleaguered party that has its hands full with Republican-allied outside groups and well-financed GOP candidates.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Friday reported raising a record $27 million during the three months ending Sept. 30. It entered the crucial final weeks of the election campaign with $25.6 million in the bank, $6.4 million more than its Republican counterpart.
The Democrats’ House equivalent, looking to stave off a Republican takeover, reported $41.6 million in the bank, more than twice the cash on hand reported by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Republican Senate candidates have maintained a slight fundraising edge over Democrats. The biggest GOP boost has come from outside groups that have spent millions on advertising, much of it in money raised from undisclosed donors in unlimited amounts.
Early financial reports show that Republican candidates in some key Senate races outraised their Democratic opponents during the past three months and had more cash on hand heading into the crucial final weeks of the midterm election campaign.
In the Illinois Senate race, a close contest for President Barack Obama’s former seat, Republican Mark Kirk raised $3.12 million for the quarter and had $4.4 million available entering October. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, who has been getting fundraising help from the president, raised $2.14 million in contributions and had $1.16 million in the bank, about a fourth of Kirk’s cash on hand.
In Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his opponent, Sharron Angle, enter the final stretch of the neck-and- neck campaign with about $4 million each in the bank. But Angle far outraised Reid, hauling in $14 million during the third quarter and spending much of it.
