The June fundraising reports paint a desperate picture for the Republican Party's committees, falling increasingly behind their Democratic counterparts in the money race.

In the House, the Rep. Chris Van Hollen's DCCC simply crushed his Republican counterpart. (In millions)

DCCC NRCC June 2007 10.4 5.9

All 2007 36.4 29.5

Cash on Hand 19.5 2.0

Debts 4.1 4.35

That's not a typo. The NRCC has effectively a negative $2.35 million account balance including debts, compared to the DCCC's positive $14.4 million.

And unlike House Republicans, who have bailed on their party, House Democrats are contributing lavishly in order to extend their advantages next year.

Charles B. Rangel of New York, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, transferred $250,000 last month from his campaign account to the DCCC, bringing his total contributions to the committees this year to $485,000. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, who ranks third in the Democratic hierarchy as majority whip, transferred $200,000, bringing his year-to-date contributions to the DCCC to $585,000. Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California also transferred $200,000 to the DCCC last month; her campaign committee has sent the committee $385,000 so far this year.

So two quarters and change into the 2008 cycle, our House committee already has a nearly $17 million advantage on the GOP, and its fundraising pace and advantage has increased over the year as well. The more Republican donors see 2008 as a lost cause (and for a party that has depended on mountains of cash to win elections, these numbers are a serious hit), the less they are likely to ante up. Democratic donors, on the other hand, appear increasingly motivated.

A total of 57 individuals gave $28,500 to the DCCC last month, the maximum annual individual contribution allowed by law. Just three individuals donated the maximum $28,500 to the NRCC in June.

In the Senate, the NRSC is in the same bind as their House colleagues.

DSCC NRSC June 2007 8.6 3.4

All 2007 31.3 15.8

Cash on Hand 20.4 5.8

Debts 4.5 0

Sen. John Ensign, who is making Liddy Dole's disastrous reign as head of the NRSC look good in comparison, is sounding the alarm (subscription only):

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (Nev.) said last week he will spend the next two weeks holding individual meetings with his GOP Senate colleagues to personally press them to raise and contribute more to the party’s 2008 effort [...] Last month, the NRSC received nothing in transfers from Senators’ campaign committees. GOP Senators chipped in $55,000 in June from their leadership political action committees, and only one Member wrote a personal check to the committee — $28,500 from Sen. Elizabeth Dole (N.C.). According to figures compiled by Democrats, the NRSC collected $292,500 in contributions from GOP Senators through the end of May. By contrast, the DSCC took in $820,000 from Senators through May, and committee officials estimate that the number topped $1 million by the end of June [...] Ensign set an ambitious goal to raise $119 million over the next two years, the same amount collected in the 2006 cycle by his counterpart, DSCC Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.). He has said he hopes $30 million of that will come from Senator giving and fundraising. But so far, meeting that mark has proved daunting, as the NRSC trailed the DSCC in overall fundraising by a nearly 2-1 margin in the first six months of the cycle. Over that period, the DSCC raised $31.2 million compared to the $15.7 million collected by the NRSC. The NRSC also is trailing where it was financially at this point in the previous cycle, when some in the party were critical of Dole, then head of the NRSC, for lagging behind the Democrats’ money pace. Through the first six months of 2005, the NRSC had raised $20.9 million and showed $8 million in the bank at the end of June.

Even that last bright spot for Republican committees, the RNC, is seeing its huge traditional advantages shrink.

DNC RNC June 2007 4.2 6.6

All 2007 28.8 46.4

Cash on Hand 4.7 15.9

Debts 2.0 0

This, however, represents a serious narrowing of the gap by the Democrats compared to just two years ago, when the parties geared up for the competitive and consequential 2006 midterm elections. At the end of June 2005, the RNC had raised $62 million and the DNC had raised $31.3 million.

Making matters worse for congressional Republicans, the RNC, which was able to focus on House and Senate races in 2006, will be refocused on its usual mission in 2008 -- the White House. So while the RNC was able to make up some of the 2006 shortfall experienced by their Senate committee, and the smaller than usual advantage by their House committee ("only" a $40 million advantage), they can't be expected to make up this year's dramatic shortfalls while still focusing on winning the presidency.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates are showing that their own fundraising negates the necessity for leaning on the DNC.

Republicans built their majorities, in large part, on their traditionally massive cash advantages. Those are now gone. And given their deficits on the issues and with Mr. 25% wrapped around their necks, their prospects for 2008 look even dimmer than usual.

Then again, before anyone rest easy, Democrats won big in 2006 despite a GOP advantage of $107 million. Money isn't everything.