Senate Democrats' fundraising outpaces Republicans

Fredreka Schouten | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, with a fundraising assist from President Obama, took into $4.9 million in May — outpacing its Republican rival committee by more than $1 million.

Party officials said the Democratic committee's haul marked its best May in a non-election year. Overall, the committee has collected more than $22 million this year and ended last month with nearly $10 million in cash reserves, officials announced.

Executive Director Guy Cecil said the fundraising total shows that Democrats donors and activists are committed to retaining their party's Senate majority in the 2014 midterm elections. Democrats currently have a 54-46 voting majority over Republicans in the Senate.

"The thought of Mitch McConnell becoming majority leader is enough to motivate most Americans to support our efforts," Cecil said, referring to the Kentucky Republican who is the Senate's minority leader.

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama each headlined fundraisers in May that aided the Senate committee.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) raised $3.6 million and ended the month with $7 million in the bank. It had $8 million in unpaid bills.

In all, the Republican committee has raised $14 million this year.

Democrats declined to release their debt numbers early Thursday, but owed more than $13.7 million at the end of April, federal campaign records show.

Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for the NRSC, noted the DSCC's earlier reports of sizeable debt. Republicans are "in a better financial position," he said.

Figures released Thursday afternoon also show the Democrats' House campaign committee besting the National Republican Campaign Committee in May. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $6.1 million last month to the NRCC's $4.7 million.

Thursday is the deadline for party committees to file fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission.