DNC raises millions more than RNC



The Democratic National Committee outraised the Republican National Committee $11.1 million to $4.2 million in the first 13 days of October, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on Friday.

The reports show the embattled RNC isn't contributing much to the GOP effort down the stretch, spending just $3.9 million during that two-week period and retaining just $3.8 million cash on hand. Over that same span, the DNC spent $10.7 million and had $13.5 million on hand.

The RNC fundraising operation has struggled mightily with a high burn rate - lots of money going out, not enough coming in - that has caused consternation among party faithful.

In the House, the National Republican Congressional Committee narrowly outraised its Democratic counterpart, $5.2 million to $4.9 million over the same span. Democrats have been conserving more funds for the stretch run and had a more than two-to-one advantage in cash on hand, $24.8 million to $11.3 million.

In the Senate, Republicans outraised Democrats $6.2 million to $5.7 million, but Democrats have a $14.4-million-to-$11.8-million edge in cash on hand.

West Virginia poll



West Virginia Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin's (D) Senate campaign released a poll Friday showing him leading Republican businessman John Raese 48 percent to 43 percent. The Mountain State race has recently become one of the hottest in the nation, with most polls showing a statistical dead heat.

Manchin's poll, like the others, shows he remains popular - 69 percent view him favorably. It also shows Raese isn't viewed in a particularly positive light, with a 44 percent favorable score and a 43 percent unfavorable rating.

Still, Raese has been able to make it a race thanks to a national political environment that is tough for any Democrat in a state like West Virginia. National Republicans have sought to capitalize on that mood, launching an ad this week that calls Manchin "a good governor" even while asking voters to send a message to President Obama by keeping the governor in his current job.

Biden adds 'caveat'



Vice President Joe Biden said that he still believes Democrats will hold both houses of Congress, although he added that heavy outside spending by conservative-aligned groups made the outcome in the House more difficult to predict.

"I've never seen this before, so the only caveat I'd put in terms of the House is how much impact this $200 [million is] going to mean," Biden told Bloomberg's Al Hunt.