Dems outraising GOP to protect Senate seats

Senate Democrats, facing an uphill battle to keep control of the upper chamber, have a key fundraising advantage over the GOP.

With the retirement of five Democratic senators and one independent in 2012, Democratic candidates seeking to retain their party’s seats outraised their Republican counterparts through the third quarter.

Democratic candidates hold fundraising leads in the open Senate races of New Mexico, Virginia and Wisconsin where both parties have top-tier candidates lined up. Democrats also raised more in the Senate races in Hawaii and Connecticut, though Republicans have recently opted to jump in those contests.

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As a group, the top Democratic candidates have raised about $11 million compared to the top Republicans’ $5.4 million in those six races.

These numbers reflect total fundraising contributions from individuals and political action committees (excluding loans). Democrats lead in cash-on-hand totals as well.

“Democrats are building strong campaigns and outraising Republicans across the board because voters are rejecting the extreme agenda that Republicans are pushing in Washington,” said Shripal Shah, press secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Senate Democrats are defending 23 seats in 2012 while Republicans are only defending 10. Republican need to pick up a net of four seats to capture the Senate (three if President Obama loses his reelection bid.).

The Democratic Caucus will lose at least six senators to retirement in 2012, including Sens. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Jim Webb (Va.).

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has left open the possibility he may not run for reelection.

Two Republicans are also retiring in 2012 — Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas).

Brian Walsh, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, downplayed the importance of the early fundraising numbers. He said both parties are going to have more than enough money to fund their respective campaigns with the increased influence of outside spending in 2012.

Freshman Republican Rep. Richard Berg (N.D.) has raised $1 million in his push to switch Conrad’s seat red. Former North Dakota attorney general Heidi Heitkamp (D) announced her bid Tuesday but has yet to file a fundraising report.

Democratic candidates in New Mexico and Virginia are raising slightly more than Republicans. New Mexico Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) has raised about $1.5 million compared to former Rep. Heather Wilson’s (R) $1.3 million.

Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has raised $3.6 million, about $40,000 more than his closest opponent George Allen (R), who is also a former governor.

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) has brought in $1.3 million, outraising her nearest possible GOP opponent by about $1 million.

Aside from fundraising numbers, Democratic candidates already have the advantage of trying to fill seats being vacated by members of their own party, said Mark Guis, a professor at Quinnipiac University who has studied the effectiveness of campaign spending.

“If a Republican is leaving or a Democrat is leaving, typically the next person in line is a Republican or Democrat [respectively],” Gius said.

With many of the primary elections more than six months away, some candidates have just launched their bids.

In Connecticut, Rep. Chris Murphy (D) has raised $2.6 million. Both Republican candidates — former wrestling executive Linda McMahon and former Rep. Chris Shays — entered the race in the last few months. McMahon will have little trouble funding her campaign. She spent about $50 million of her own money in her failed 2010 Senate bid.

In Hawaii, Rep. Mazie Hirono (D) has raised about $700,000 while the only Republican opponent, former Hawaii governor Linda Lingle, entered the race in October and has not filed a fundraising report. To win the nomination, Hirono will have to defeat former Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii).

Lingle, who defeated Hirono in the 2002 gubernatorial race, reportedly raised around $400,000 in the first few days of her campaign.