Congressional Democrats Lead GOP Counterparts In Fundraising

Though Democrats in Congress may seem in a state of upheaval over health care reform and climate change legislation, the GOP's lackluster fundraising may keep Republicans from staging a mid-term comeback in 2010.

Politico reports that House Democrat incumbents raised an average of $50,000 more than House Republicans in the first nine months of the year, with an average of $486,018 to $438,572.

It may not seem like a significant margin, but it's the fundraising rate that counts, according to Politico. Compared to 2003, the early donation rate to House Democrats jumped 69 percent -- but for the GOP donations are up just 27 percent.

USA Today reported last month that House Democrat fundraising saw a boost this fall, taking in more than $7 million in September, while their Republican counterparts took in just $3.4 million. Republicans did see an upswing in fundraising over the summer as the debate on health care reform took a contentious turn.

Many key Democratic and Republican incumbents sit on influential congressional committees handling Obama's health care and energy agenda.

"Those committees are magnets for cash," said Dave Levinthal, communications director at the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan organization that tracks political money. "If someone hopes to influence you, there is an easy way to do it."