Democrats Winning 2012 Money Race (Sort of)

Republicans appear to be on the ropes in the race to raise money for the 2012 election—depending on how you look at it. The Republican National Committee, Congressional Committee, and Senatorial Committee raised a combined $105 million through July—compared to $129 for their Democratic counterparts, Politico reports. The major reason? The DNC is trouncing the RNC, thanks to copious fundraising from President Obama. Republicans argue that even being close is impressive, given the president’s inherent advantage.

At this point in Bush’s first term, Republicans note, they had an $80 million edge. But Republicans aren’t leveraging their advantages as well; they control the House, yet the DCCC has actually out-raised the NRCC by a hair. “We should be kicking their butts,” said one former GOP official. “For them to be trailing, I find that to be astounding.” Then again, the GOP also has loads of outside groups raising money, including American Crossroads, Karl Rove’s so-called “shadow RNC.” (More National Republican Congressional Committee stories.)