Republican Party enlists rich candidates

NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Republican Party is recruiting wealthy candidates able to finance a congressional campaign, The New York Times reported Monday.

"They are in position to run strong, well-financed grass-roots campaigns next year in some of our top targeted districts," Ken Spain, a spokesman for the House Republicans' campaign committee, told the Times.

Fourteen Republicans have donated at least $100,000 to their own campaigns, compared with nine at the same point in the 2005-06 election cycle, the Times reported, noting Republicans said they are talking with other wealthy potential candidates.

Republicans said the recruiting effort has made the party more competitive, while Democrats told the newspaper it illustrates the GOP's inability to raise money since it lost control of Congress in 2006.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has raised $56.6 million and has $29.2 million in cash on hand, while the National Republican Congressional Committee has raised $40.7 million and has $2.5 million in cash, the Post reported.