GOP out-fundraises Dems in January

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Congressional Republicans have out-fund-raised their Democratic counterparts last month, eliminating more leftover 2004 campaign debt.

Citing recently filed federal disclosure records, the non-partisan Political Money Line said The National Republican Congressional Committee, which raises money for House Republicans candidates, reported nearly $2 million on hand in its January report to the Federal Election Commission, raising $4.6 million last month after spending $5.8 million on its activities.

While the NRCC has erased its 2004 campaign debts, the House Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported debts of about $11 million, including $10 million in loans from 2004.

The DCCC reported raising $1.6 million last month, including $750,000 from the Democratic National Committee, ending the month with more than $1.5 million in the bank.

The Republican Senatorial Committee reportedly paid off its $2.5 million in debt in January, ending the month with $1.7 million on hand after raising $5.3 million, including $1 million from the Republican National Committee.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced earlier in the year it had paid its $3.6 million in 2004 campaign debt, but its January fundraising details were still unavailable.

The Republican National Committee had a strong financial advantage over its Democratic counterpart, with the RNC starting February with $16.5 million compared with the DNC's $2.6 million.