The Republican National Committee maintained its fundraising lead over the Democratic National Committee in the month of May, as the RNC raised $7.5 million to the DNC's $5.9 million.
Since the beginning of the year, the RNC has beaten the DNC in fundraising by $9 million. The Republicans ended May with a cash-on-hand advantage of $4 million. Most troubling for the DNC is that it still has $19.8 million in debt, compared to zero debt for the RNC.
The RNC is the historically dominant political party committee, and in the post-soft money era -- since McCain-Feingold restrictions went into effect in 2003 -- it has only been outraised by the Democrats during the 2010 election and, thanks to transfers from then-Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, during the 2004 election.
The DNC's troubles contrast starkly with the successes of the Democratic congressional party committees. In May, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $6.1 million to beat the National Republican Congressional Committee in every month of 2013 so far. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $4.9 million in May, compared to just $3.6 million for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The RNC continues to receive strong support from its grassroots base, as it did during the 2012 election. In May, the committee raised $3.75 million from donors giving less than $200, while the DNC brought in only $1.9 million from those small donors. The DNC outraised the RNC among donors giving more than $200: $3.9 million to $3.5 million.
The DNC will likely report better numbers for June, boosted by fundraisers featuring President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.