RNC keeps up strong fundraising pace

The Republican National Committee raised $7.8 million in January, keeping up its strong fundraising pace in the first month of the 2014 election year.

The RNC now has $9.8 million in the bank with no debt.

The organization has been spending heavily in recent months on upgrading and expanding its field and technological operations, which Republicans admit weren’t as good as Democrats’ in 2012.

That shows in their bottom line: The organization spent roughly $7 million in the month. RNC officials have said their focus is on field and tech, and they’ll spend almost nothing on advertising this year, a slight strategic shift from the past.

“Thanks to the continued support of our donors, we started off 2014 strong,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “As a result, we’ve been able to continue making unprecedented investments in data and digital — as we continue to build our on-the-ground presence in communities across the country.”

The Democratic National Committee has yet to release its numbers. The DNC has struggled with fundraising in the past year, and had $4.7 million in the bank and $15.6 million in debt as of the end of December.