The same day President Obama heads to New York and Connecticut for three fundraisers for Democratic re-election efforts, Republicans announced a record monthly fundraising total of $15.5 million.
Republican officials say the record monthly haul came mostly from “grassroots enthusiasm on the ground.”
“Our record-breaking fundraising numbers are a testament to the fact that Americans are ready for real leadership and that our candidates are offering pro-growth, commonsense solutions to put our country back on the right track,” NRSC Finance Chairman Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said in a statement.
Others also are crediting big donors watching the political tide turn in Republicans’ favor over the course of the last few months and Portman’s dogged efforts to convince bigger donors to cut checks.
The GOP midterm money chase got off to a slow start this cycle because of donor fatigue after Mitt Romney’s presidential loss but now the NRSC has managed to nearly double the goals it expected to take in from major donors, a source familiar with the figures told the Washington Examiner.
The first major meetings and outreach efforts Portman held with major donors were “grueling.”
“There was a lot of burnout post-Romney loss in 2012 and to get this where it is today was an incredible amount of work on many people’s parts, but certainly on Portman’s,” the source said.
The Ohio Republican is personally responsible for raking in at least $20 million for Republicans so far this cycle, and has held fundraisers for every major GOP candidate, another Republican familiar with the efforts told the Washington Examiner.
The Senate Republican fundraising arm, outraised by Democrats so far this cycle, on Tuesday announced a record monthly fundraising total of $15.5 million and is on pace for a record-breaking cycle overall.
The NRSC’s $15.5 million for September comes after a disappointing $6.1 million pull for August.
Experienced Republican fundraisers are encouraged by the September figures even though they continue to expect to be outraised in the end from the party that controls the White House and the Senate majority.
One of their usual top fundraisers, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also is out of the overall Republican money chase as he works to hold on to his own seat.
Obama, first lady Michelle and Vice President Joe Biden have tried to make up for the president’s low approval rating, which has hovered around 41 percent, and a political environment that favors Republicans by collecting cash.
They have raised a combined total of at least $50 million from events they’ve headlined, Republicans estimate. Obama alone has held 27 fundraisers benefiting Senate Democrats.
Monthly fundraising totals are not due until Oct. 15. The NRSC’s Senate counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, does not plan to disclose their numbers today, officials told the Examiner.
