House Dems outpace GOP fundraising

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Democratic representatives have an edge on Republicans in fundraising despite a minority presence in the U.S. House, campaign finance reports indicate.

Financial reports released this week show the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has raised $52.1 million, while the National Republican Congressional Committee raised $48.7 million for the 2012 elections. No minority party has raised more than the opposition since the 1994 election cycle, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Some Republicans say a lack of urgency is to blame and conservatives have focused their energy on winning the Senate and White House.

"The base is naturally going to be fired up when their party is not in power, and right now the enthusiasm and excitement is focused against House Republicans," one GOP strategist told the Post.

Democrats say grassroots donors giving in smaller amounts are boosting the DCCC coffers -- $22.6 million was raised from donors giving less than $200 in October.

"When Republicans consistently protect billionaires over Medicare, it's hard to convince small donors to give a check," said the DCCC's chairman, Rep. Steve Israel of New York. "The Republican's grassroots donors have abandoned them and our grassroots donors are more energized than they ever have been."