September 19, 2008

by Carrie Dann, MSNBC
With at least six tight races on their hands – and with polls showing their incumbents saddled with Bush’s low approval ratings– the folks at the National Republican Senatorial Committee have been feeling a little bit of heartburn. 

But the most recent fundraising numbers for August might just offer them a numerical dose of Pepsid AC.

In August, the NRSC outraised their Democratic counterparts by almost a million dollars. Republicans raised $5.2 million for the month, compared to a $4.36 haul by Democrats. 

Dems still have the advantage in terms of their campaign war chest, with $33.67 million in cash on hand – compared to $26.8 for Republicans.

Still, the GOP’s candidates are keeping pace in states like North Carolina, Minnesota, and Oregon despite the money disadvantage. The DSCC, which is pouring cash into campaigns like Kay Hagan’s in North Carolina and Jeff Merkley’s in Oregon, has vastly outspent Republicans, shelling out $13.69 million in August. The GOP Senate committee spent only $3.8 million for the month.