House Speaker Boehner prolific fundraiser for the party

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- House Speaker John Boehner may have problems keeping the caucus united, but data from his office indicate the Ohio Republican has no difficulty as a fundraiser.

Boehner, a familiar face for years on the fundraising circuit, raised more than $30 million so far this year, a figure his political office provided to Politico indicated.

The sum is slightly ahead of the amount he raised at a similar point in the 2012 election cycle, Politico reported Sunday.

Since January, Boehner has contributed more than $5 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee, $350,000 to House members and candidates and $250,000 to the Republican National Committee, the information indicated.

"As House Republicans continue working to create jobs and hold the administration accountable on Benghazi and the IRS, the speaker appreciates the strong support we receive each day from across the country," Boehner spokesman Cory Fritz said. "Every dollar is needed as we prepare to face one of the most well-financed, well-organized political machines in modern history."

NRCC Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., said no one was "more dedicated to growing our majority" than Boehner.

Republicans, who hold a 17-seat majority, go into 2014 favored to keep the House because the 2010 congressional redistricting process was handled, in large part, by Republican-dominated statehouses.

Politico said the Cook Political Report projects Republicans, who lost eight seats in 2012, should see a net gain of between two and seven seats in the midterms.