WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Republican Party has a clear financial advantage in the midterm elections and is spending money to promote long-shot candidates, The Washington Post said.
With millions of dollars from special interest groups, Republicans are outspending Democrats by as much as 2 to 1 in some races where Democrats once held sizable leads, the newspaper said in its analysis of the Nov. 2 midterm elections.
The spending has given Republicans a better chance to win control of the House and Senate in a political environment already favorable for the GOP, the Post said.
For example, Republican Party committees and conservative groups have spent $100,000 or more in 77 different House races across the country, while the Democratic Party and its supporters spent that much in just 43 House races, the Post said.
In Senate races, the GOP and its allies have spent $1 million or more in 12 races; Democrats have spent that much in 6.
The advantage let Republicans start broadcasting advertisements sooner, and means the GOP has spent heavily in nearly twice as many districts as needed to win control of the House, the newspaper said.
Concerned at being outspent, Democrats are using it as part of their message for voters this fall.
"Right before our eyes, we're seeing a blatant attempt by the right-wing shadowy interest groups to buy a Congress that will cater to their special interests, to the exclusion of everyone else," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which funds House races.
