Incumbent Democrats in four competitive Virginia congressional races all hold sizable cash leads over their Republican challengers, according to second-quarter financial disclosure filings with the Federal Election Commission.
Longtime Rep. Rick Boucher, as well as freshman Reps. Tom Perriello, Glenn Nye and Gerald Connolly, all face tight races heading into the fall against their respective opponents.
But each has raked in money in the face of a shaky national political climate for Democrats. Perriello, who represents Virginia's 5th District, one of the GOP's top targets, raised over $660,000 in the second quarter to leave him with $1.7 million cash on hand as of June 30 -- significantly more than his opponent, Robert Hurt, who had just $216,000.
Connolly has about $1.3 million cash on hand, compared with less than $300,000 for his opponent, Keith Fimian, who battled through a tough Republican primary against Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity.
"It was an expensive primary, but it got Keith's name out there more," said Fimian campaign manager Tim Edson. "Financially, when you're in a primary, it kind of keeps money on the sideline" as people wait and see who will win.
But Ryan Rudominer, national press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, shook off talk about members of the National Republican Campaign Committee's "Young Guns" program like Hurt and Fimian.
"Republicans talk a big game about the strength of their candidates, but these finance reports show a surge in support for Democrats who are standing up for the middle class," he said.
Nye and Boucher also hold sizable cash leads over their respective opponents, auto dealer Scott Rigell and Morgan Griffith. Nye had about $1.3 million on hand, compared with $227,000 for Rigell, and Boucher's $2 million significantly trumped Morgan Griffith's $297,000.
National funding decisions will be made as the races move into the fall, said political analyst Bob Holsworth, the founder and president of Virginia Tomorrow.
"If the party believes Fimian is close, he'll get enough money," he said.
They're going to use it strategically -- it's important for Fimian and Griffith to show they're worth it.
"The Democrats are hoping they can scare off a couple Republicans with the size of their war chests," he said.