Behind The Fundraising Numbers

Fundraising reports for Congressional candidates were due last night, and I've been poring through the House numbers to glean some early trends:

1) Wounded incumbents. It's a warning sign for members of Congress if they have trouble raising more money than their challenger at this early stage in the election. With all the perks of office, this is the time when building a financial advantage against an opponent should be easiest. But if members are losing public support back home, it’s often revealed in their financial figures.

One of the most disappointing fundraising performances came from freshman Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.), who only raised $110,000 – one of the worst totals for a targeted Democrat. State senator Alan Nunnelee, his likely Republican opponent, nearly doubled that amount, raising $201,000.

Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.), another vulnerable freshman Democrat, performed better on the fundraising front, raising $240,000. But he was still outraised by his 2008 opponent, state senator Andy Harris, who took in $271,000.

Rep. Harry Teague (D-N.M.) was outraised by former GOP congressman Steve Pearce for the second straight quarter – not an encouraging sign for the freshman.

And Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.V.) is nearly out of campaign cash, and nearly got outraised by a leading Republican challenger, former state Del. David McKinley. McKinley begins the year with more money banked ($100,000) than the 14-term congressman ($65,000).

On the Republican side, Bethlehem mayor John Callahan outraised Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), but both raised impressive amounts – over $350,000 each – for their campaigns. And in California, Ami Bera handily outraised Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) and now has banked more campaign cash than the congressman.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/