Late Surge of Money Buoys Republicans in Races That Will Decide Control of Senate

The New York Times reports:

Republican candidates for the Senate have overcome the sizable fund-raising edge held by their Democratic opponents for most of the 2014 election cycle, according to new disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission, outraising or matching Democrats in races that will decide control of the Senate and entering the final weeks of the campaign with ample cash.

Republican candidates and “super PACs” are now splurging on expensive last-minute advertising, at a time when polling shows Republicans increasingly more likely to win control of the Senate. The question is whether the last-minute money, raised in the three months ending Sept. 30, is coming too late.


Democrats exploited incumbency and an early campaign season free of divisive primaries to raise cash and buy advertising time months in advance, when it was cheaper. Even in races where they are now being outraised, Democrats have booked or aired more television spending for October and early November. Republicans rely more on outside groups and super PACs, which must pay higher rates for advertising, particularly in the coming days.
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Midterm Elections 2014


But the late infusion of money weakens one of the few advantages Democrats have had in an election in which they are defending far more Senate seats than Republicans are and in which President Obama has dragged down many of his party’s incumbents.

The New York Times prepares the tenured socialist professor crowd. for November.