It is difficult to provide an accurate, up-to-the-moment comparison that includes all three streams of campaign money — money spent by candidates, money spent by party committees and money spent by outside groups — because candidates have had to file financial reports that cover only up until mid-October. So far, the latest figures show that the Democratic Party machinery has outraised its Republican counterpart in this campaign cycle by almost $270 million. Outside group spending has already far exceeded the total for the last midterm election cycle, in 2006, and is on track to surpass even what was spent by independent groups in 2008, a presidential election year, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Leading the way in independent group spending on House races has been the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has reported spending more than $12 million on “issue ads” in House races dating back to September, mostly attacking Democratic candidates.
– Democrats have been playing the financial victim lately, bemoaning the cash outside groups are throwing at Republicans. Which is kind of ironic, because the truth is that Democrats are outspending Republicans—even if you take those outside groups into account. Democratic campaign committees and left-leaning outside groups have spent a total of $856 million, compared to $677 million from Republican committees and right-leaning outside groups, Politico reports. The New York Times adds that in the 109 most competitive House races, Democrats have out-raised their opponents by more than 30%. “When you look at the national party committees … the Democrats are whopping the Republicans,” said a Center for Responsive Politics spokesman. But right-leaning outside groups are “effectively obliterating left-leaning groups.” A Democratic National Committee spokesman says the point isn’t how much is spent, but who’s spending it. “Who will these candidates be beholden to in the end?” he asks.