PHILIP ELLIOTT
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats’ campaign arm again outraised its Republican rival last month and borrowed $5.2 million to buy a Capitol Hill home next to its headquarters, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.
Both campaign groups’ fundraising summaries showed donors were continuing to open wallets. Democrats are defending a narrow majority, and strategists from both parties say Republicans have a shot at picking up the six seats they need to claim that status for the first time since 2006’s elections.
Democratic donors gave $8.3 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in May. At the same time, officials said the committee saved $28.2 million.
GOP donors, meanwhile, gave the National Republican Senatorial Committee $5.8 million in May. The committee has saved $22.1 million.
Both committees are amassing sizeable bank accounts to pay for on-the-ground operatives and on-the-air television ads in tight races.
Democrats have outraised Republicans in 15 of the last 17 months.
In all, the Senate committees have raised a combined $154 million.
The Democrats’ summary also showed the committee took on a $5.2 million mortgage for the Mott House, which has campaign committee offices and is a frequent venue for Democratic fundraisers. Senate Democrats for the last 11 years had leased the house, which is located steps from the Senate grounds and is a favorite among donors.
The Democrats’ campaign committee owns a separate office building next door.
Apart from the mortgage, Democrats said their campaign arm was free of debt.
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