GOP Holds Big Edge Over Dems in Party Cash

The party has raised more than $97 million in 2007 and has $25 million on hand

By Jim O'Neill, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2008 1:11 PM CST

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GOP Holds Big Edge Over Dems in Party Cash — Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean delivers a guest lecture to a class in comparative politics at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., in this May file photo. Dean urged Florida and Michigan party officials to come up with plans to repeat their presidential nominating contests so that their delegates... (Associated Press)

The Democratic candidates may be flush with money, but their party isn't. The GOP has a nearly 7-to-1 advantage in cash on hand, the New York Times reports. Democrats hope to make up the gap once they settle on a nominee, but the GOP already has begun plotting with John McCain on how to best use the advantage. Republicans raised $97 million last year and have $25 million left; Dems raised $60.5 and have $3.7 million left.

“The DNC has had trouble raising money, and the RNC is well-positioned to help our nominee financially," said a GOP spokesman. Money raised by the party is pivotal because it can be used prior to nominating conventions; candidates can use funds they’ve raised for the general election only after they’ve been nominated as their party’s candidate. (More Barack Obama stories.)

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