DSCC Edges NRSC In February Fundraising

Senate Republicans have faced a rough month – with recruiting shortfalls and a candidate withdrawal -- and their just-released fundraising numbers for February won’t be giving them too much relief.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $3.9 million last month, a slight uptick from last month’s haul, and banked $15.3 million.

By contrast, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $4.8 million in February –also more than their $3.9 million January total – and ended the month with $32.8 million cash-on-hand.

The DSCC reported $500,000 in outstanding debt, while the NRSC ended the month with no debt.

The political landscape for Senate Democrats has been in their favor since the election cycle began, with Republicans defending 23 seats to the Democrats’ 12 seats.

Outside of Louisiana, Republicans lack credible challengers against a host of potentially vulnerable Democratic senators – including Sens. Tim Johnson (S.D), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

First-term Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) won’t even be facing a Republican challenger in the fall, despite representing a Republican-leaning state.

In an interview with Politico last week, DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer said the committee, which traditionally focuses on protecting its own incumbents, can now concentrate almost exclusively on going after vulnerable Republican incumbents.

“Our first priority has always been to re-elect our incumbents,” said Schumer. “And now except for Louisiana, we now have a pretty clear slate.”

Schumer added that the committee's internal polling showed their Democratic nominees leading in five Republican-held seats -- Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia.
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