House Democrats' campaign arm raised a record amount in September, and now has more than $20 million cash in the bank for the 2014 elections.

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) brought in $8.4 million in September and now has $21.6 million cash on hand. That's more than double what the committee had in the bank at this point last cycle.



And much of that fundraising was fueled by backlash over the potential of a shutdown, which didn't begin until early October but had been threatened by congressional Republicans for days prior.



According to a DCCC aide, more than $2 million of the sum was raised by contributions from 99,000 donors in the six days following Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE's (R-Texas) 21-hour speech protesting ObamaCare.



That contributed to a record-breaking $3 million raised online from more than 160,000 donors, the best off-year online month ever for a party campaign.



Democrats assert the shutdown will be beneficial to their chances of taking back the House, a belief fueled by polling showing Republicans taking most of the blame for the situation, as well as polling in some of the committee's top-targeted districts that show Republican incumbents vulnerable and hurting from attacks focused on the shutdown.



The Hill reported last week that DCCC Chairman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) told a gathering of business officials that the shutdown had boosted recruiting in at least three competitive districts, with more likely to come.



He attributed much of the committee's record-breaking fundraising to the shutdown as well.



“House Republicans’ reckless shutdown hurt the middle class — so our grassroots supporters and Democratic members stepped up to fight back, leading to a record fundraising month and continuing to give the DCCC the tools we need for 2014," he said.



"Just as voters are overwhelmingly fed up with this Republican Congress, Democratic supporters are, too, and they’re ready to elect people who will replace Republicans who put our economy at risk in order to advance a narrow political agenda.”

A committee aide said the shutdown had also energized Democratic members, and now 86 percent of the caucus has contributed dues to the committee.

