House Dems top GOP in 1Q fundraising

WASHINGTON -- Staging a bit of a comeback after losing control of the House of Representatives last year, Democrats led by Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) raised more funds for House candidates than Republicans did in the first quarter of this year, figures released Thursday show.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it raised $19.6 million, edging ahead of the $18.1 million reported by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Israel, committee chairman since December, said the contributions were the strongest non-election year showing ever and put the committee "back on a sound financial footing" by allowing it to cut its $20-million debt to $8 million.

The GOP committee has the same amount of debt, but it also has nearly twice as much cash in the bank, $9 million compared with the Democrats' $4.6 million.

Israel credited the House GOP's "radical agenda" for "energizing" Democrats, who he said had made a record $1.2 million in contributions online in March alone.

"Republicans' radical agenda to end Medicare and play chicken with a government shutdown, while protecting taxpayer giveaways for Big Oil, is turning off independent voters and energizing our Democratic supporters," Israel said.

"As a result, the DCCC is back on sound financial footing and aggressively focused on holding Republicans accountable for their radical agenda."

But Paul Lindsay, NRCC communications director, said his committee also had a record month in March.

"The record fundraising set by the NRCC this month keeps House Republicans on offense as Democrats double down on their failed tax and spend policies," Lindsay said. "House Democrats are clearly determined to do everything in their power to return Nancy Pelosi to the speaker's chair."

Israel faces an uphill battle in his attempt to win back the House in 2012. Republicans won a net 63 seats in November and hold a 49-vote majority.