Money In Politics: The Republicans National Committee Raised $6.8 Million In August

As summer comes to a close, August fundraising numbers are beginning to trickle in from Democrats and Republicans.

Trying to build a strong party infrastructure following its losses in the 2012 elections, the Republican National Committee raised $6.8 million in August and has $12.5 million in the bank, according to new fundraising numbers released Friday.

The RNC has been the face of the Republican Party’s attempt to rebrand and modernize since last November, engaging minority voters, opening field offices and even urging Republican lawmakers earlier this year to embrace immigration reform -- a message that went unheeded by many in the party. The Democratic National Committee has not yet released its August haul, but earlier in 2013 the DNC had lagged the RNC as well as its own previous fundraising numbers in nonelection years.

“The RNC is engaging with voters in the field earlier than ever and working to hold Democrats up and down the ballot accountable for their misguided agenda,” Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “We already have more staff on the ground than in headquarters and are continuing to build out our data and digital teams. It’s imperative that we keep building a permanent, nationwide campaign to provide our candidates with the necessary tools and resources to achieve success.”

On the other hand, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party committee dedicated to electing Democratic senators, bested its Republican counterpart last month, raising $3.3 million in August to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s $1.9 million, Roll Call reported Thursday. The DSCC has about twice as much cash on hand but is also in the red, whereas the NRSC recently paid off all its remaining debt from the 2012 cycle.

On the House side, the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee raised $3 million total for 20 embattled incumbents in its Patriot program, according to Roll Call. August filings to the Federal Election Commission are due Friday.