DNC's fundraising tepid

WASHINGTON, May 25 (UPI) -- The two Democratic presidential hopefuls have raised record sums, but the national party has failed to rake in big money, disclosure forms show.

While Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York have broken political fundraising records, the Democratic National Committee, as of the end of April, had collected $22.8 million and had $4.4 million left to spend, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

By comparison, the Republican National Committee raised $57.6 million by the end of April and had $40.6 million in cash on hand.

Democrats say their party has not raised as much as Republicans because supporters have been donating to the protracted primary battle between Obama and Clinton -- money that otherwise would have gone to the DNC.

Hassan Nemazee, a finance co-chairman for the Clinton campaign and longtime DNC fundraiser, said until the party has a nominee the national committee's fundraising ability is hampered.

"People are not going to give until that candidate puts in place an apparatus that allows for people to feel as though there is an institutional memory in place, so they know someone will remember they gave the money," he said.