Southern Democrats Raising Big Bucks – NationalJournal.com

As third quarter fundraising reports roll in, Democrats are hearing good news from an unlikely place — the South.

In nearly every competitive Senate contest, southern Democrats outraised their Republican counterparts this quarter, which ran from July 1 to September 30. The South will be home to some of the party’s most difficult races next year, including three vulnerable Democratic-held seats they’re trying to hang onto — in Louisiana, Arkansas and North Carolina — and two potential, if difficult, pickup opportunities in Kentucky and Georgia.

Georgia’s Michelle Nunn, another first-time Senate candidate, reported raising $1.7 million — more than double what her top Republican rivals raised. GOP Rep. Jack Kingston and Georgia businessman David Perdue each raised about $800,000, while former Secretary of State Karen Handel and Reps. Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey reported raising about $300,000.

Both first-time Democrats still lag behind in cash on hand, however. McConnell has about $10 million in the bank to Grimes’ $2 million. Both Gingrey and Kingston are reaching the $3 million mark, while Nunn hasn’t released a cash on hand figure.

via Southern Democrats Raising Big Bucks – NationalJournal.com.