(CNN) – Some good news for embattled Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele: the national party said Friday it raised more than $5.7 million in April, and had $24.3 million cash-on-hand.
That's more than double the roughly $9.8 million Democrats had on hand in March, the last month for which the party's fundraising figures are available.
Many political observers expected Steele's biggest success would come as party spokesman, not on the fundraising front. Instead, the former Maryland lieutenant governor's public statements have frequently landed him in hot water - but, despite a push within the party to reclaim some control of the purse strings from the GOP leader, the RNC's bottom line remains surprisingly healthy thanks to better-than-expected fundraising success.
The RNC has outpaced its Democratic counterpart on the fundraising front since Steele took the helm, thanks in part to legal restrictions on Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine. The Virginia governor was forbidden by law from raising money for the party while his state's legislature was still in session, and dismissed direct comparisons with the GOP's showing - though he predicted in March that observers should "stay tuned" now that he was free to solicit donations. "I think you're going to see good numbers," he said.
The DNC did outraise the RNC in March, $7.8 million to $6.8 million, but remained $6.6 million in debt. The RNC is currently debt-free.
Democrats have raked in less than $18 million over the first three months of the year, while Republicans have pulled in more than $25 million. The DNC has yet to release its April fundraising figures.
UPDATE: The RNC dismissed the idea that restrictions on Kaine's money-raising ability had contributed to sluggish Democratic fundraising. “To claim that the DNC has been out-raised by the RNC because Mr. Kaine is a part-time governor is laughable," said RNC spokesman Todd Irons.
"The Democrats have control of the White House and Congress, the DNC supposedly has a database of 12 million supporters of Obama's presidential campaign, and the DNC still can't raise any money? Legal restrictions on Gov. Kaine my eye. It has more to do with the fact that the president and Nancy Pelosi have been on a spending spree with the taxpayers’ money and piling-up mountains of debt than any so-called ‘legal restrictions.’”
From CNN Politics
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Good for them, now give it back to this country , you lousy good for nothing party of NO, thanks for destroying this beautiful country for your greedy selves. Now all you need to do is put your stupid Wasilla hillbelly on stage. Thanks but no Thanks! America don't let them, not this time or ever.
Donate to the DNC.
Maybe they can buy a clue.
I guess the rich don't like it that they are not getting the beefits they received from Bush. It also shows there are a bunch of idiots out there.
Wrong! The Democrats have raked in billions in stimulus money to buy votes from their constituents. This isn't about raising campaign funds it's about vote buying.
Gimme, gimme, gimme... Who cares how much is raised to politic what matters is who can steal working people's money to buy off the losers, welfare vampires, ACORN bandits, etc. at election time.
Someone from the Democratic party, with its seriously character deficient and ethically challenged members, calling members of another party morally bankrupt is laughable. People will eventually realize that the course on which the Democrats have set us is wrong headed and destructive.
I see someone mentioned a ticking clock. Must mean it's time for Dick Cheney to torture someone.
Go GOP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am proud to say that I am one of those that donated. We've learned from the dems that you have to have money to move a mountain! Now the only thing the GOP is missing is a dishonest organization like ACORN working on their side!
Made an observation. There are really not that many dem. posters here on CNN. Just a few that change their names. The writings are too similar to be different people. Nice try dems. Keep it up, but your only fooling your selves and hurting your party.
Well at least we've learned one thing from Obama and the dems. Money buys you what you want. But I bet there are no Saudi doners like the hundreds that donated to Obama!
If O-b-a-m-a can do it, so can the Rep. Only difference is, it's real Americans donating to the GOP. No foriegn donations coming from the Middle east here!
They can raise money? But can they win elections? That's the question. P.S. Pssst, Michael. Don't forget the throw the money overboard before the ship finally sinks or before they throw you overboard- whichever comes first.
Job well done Mr. Steele.
I still believe that the American people are good hard working people,not all of them that voted for Obama realized just how far left he and the rest of the Democrats in Congress really are-it's like they are from Europe -–not the United States,anyway,in 2010 the Republicans WILL be voted back in to stop the insanity,the more money that the Republicans are now getting is proof of that,don't worry people we will be able to stop this ramrodding and destruction of our country hopefully in time.
When your party has lost power in all branches of government you tend to throw money at it in hopes of reviving your party. Now we'll have to see if that money generates any real ideas.
Whats surprising is that the Democrat's are still raising money at all. I expected to see complacency setting in. Even with the gains they've made, yet they keep pushing forward aware that the Republicans are waiting for their first sign of weakness.
What is wrong with getting richer. If the rich know how to make money, why fault 'em, join 'em...
Talk about money down a rathole.
Not one penny from me; they can get all they want from their arrogant supporters and Cheney too...he should be a multi-billionaire after all the Haliburton money comes in.
Let's have a list from where the funds came from: people with offshore accounts. companies getting subsidies for taking jobs off shore and credit card companies.
So the party dedicated to the destruction of the middle class is getting a cash infusion from its corporate owners...
@Sniffit
That would also buy 1045875 pairs of shoes for the First Lady.
well isn't the Republican party for the rich?!! When it's time the Democratic party will raise more money than the GOP.
Wow that is a lot of money for a party that is supposedly going down the crapper.