Democrats Far Outspending Republicans in 10 key Senate races, Figures Show [Where's Priebus?]

Guardian (UK)R ^ | July 16, 2014 | Dan Roberts

[Steelfish]

Democrats Far Outspending Republicans in 10 key Senate races, Figures Show Guardian analysis reveals surge of money into battleground states, with vulnerable Democrats raising cash at record rates

Dan Roberts in Washington 16 July 2014 13.11 EDT

Alison Grimes, pictured here with Elizabeth Warren, is raising cash at a quicker pace than her rival, Mitch McConnell.

Democratic donors are outspending Republicans by more than 50% in the closest-fought Senate races, according to a Guardian analysis of the latest campaign finance disclosures that reveal a surge of money flooding into key battleground states.

More than $42m has been raised so far this year by Democratic campaigns in just 10 states that are seen as crucial in determining whether the party holds on to control of the Senate in November's midterm elections.

And although a number of more liberal senators are currently pushing for a constitutional amendment that would somewhat curb the growing dominance of money over US politics, disclosures filed this week with the Federal Election Commission show the party is nevertheless out performing Republicans by a clear margin – in direct contributions and early estimates of spending by outside groups.

In particular, vulnerable Democratic incumbents such as senators Kay Hagan in North Carolina, Mark Begich in Alaska and Mary Landrieu in Louisiana are raising money at personal record rates, up by an average of 58% compared with the same period last time they ran for election.

But the top performing candidate in the 10 races assessed by the Guardian was Kentucky Democratic challenger Alison Grimes, who out-raised her opponent, the famously well-funded Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, with a haul of $4m in the second quarter of 2014 and is fast narrowing his longer-term funding advantage.

[kabar]

Disagree. I am getting a ton of solicitations. The schism in the GOP is impacting fundraising. The GOPe is trying to destroy the Tea Party. And the episode in MS using the race card against McDaniel is lower than low. I can tell you that many of my conservative friends have vowed like I have not to give a dime to the RNC. I have had it.