RNC Fundraising Efforts Net $19 Million, But Committee Remains $17.5 Million In Debt

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee raised $19 million in the past three months but is still $17.5 million in debt.

The committee said Monday that it had raised $36.6 million this year, including $19 million in the second quarter, and had $7.3 million in the bank. RNC chairman Reince Priebus started his term in January with almost $25 million in red ink and has paid down $6.7 million.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

In an email Sunday night, the committee said big donors are returning to the party. Major donors have given more this year than all of 2009 and 2010 combined, the committee said. Under former Chairman Michael Steele, the GOP saw an exodus of big contributors.

"We have to get on track," said Priebus on the heels of being elected to replace Steele as top dog at the RNC in January. "We all recognize that there's a steep hill here ahead of us, and the only way that we'll be able to move forward is if we're all together."

The RNC's goal is to build up a fund to give to the party's eventual presidential nominee who will face President Barack Obama and his deep-pocketed re-election campaign.

The Democratic National Committee raised $38 million in the same April-to-June fundraising period. The DNC has $21.4 million in the bank.