Fund Raising Boosts Democrats

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

Fund Raising Boosts Democrats
By T.W. FARNAM
April 26, 2008; Page A4

Democratic candidates for four Republican-held Senate seats raised more money in the first quarter than their opponents, bolstering the party's hopes for expanding their slim Senate majority this year. Republicans hold the early-year fund-raising edge in the race for just one competitive Democratic-held seat.

The fund-raising numbers, filed last week with the Senate, show two Democratic challengers -- author/comedian Al Franken of Minnesota and former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen -- pulling in more than the incumbents in their states. Mr. Franken took in $2.2 million, compared with Sen. Norm Coleman's $2.1 million. Mrs. Shaheen raised $1.2 million to Sen. John Sununu's $1 million.

In Colorado and New Mexico, where Republican senators are retiring, Democratic candidates are outraising the Republicans they are likely to face. Colorado Rep. Mark Udall brought in $1.5 million for his campaign against former Rep. Bob Schaffer, who raised $1 million. New Mexico Democratic Rep. Tom Udall, Mark's second cousin, faces no serious Democratic primary challenger, and raised $1.3 million in the first quarter. The two Republicans vying for the nomination there have raised $1 million combined.

In other states, Democratic challengers are running close to Republican incumbents. In Maine, Rep. Tom Allen raised $701,000 to incumbent Sen. Susan Collins's $963,000 in January to March. With the election still several months away, the candidates combined already have raised more in this cycle -- $8.7 million in the state of 1.3 million people since the beginning of 2007 -- than raised in any prior full Maine Senate campaign. The Republicans' one chance to pick up a Democratic seat is Louisiana, where Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu took in $1.1 million, compared with $1.4 million for her challenger, John Kennedy, the state treasurer.

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[KSinTX]

1. That $1.2 and $1 million figures aren't huge gains

but if you consider the additional infrastructure put in place in the primaries, they are going to be in really great shape and highly competitive (let us hope!)