WV GOP Touts Fundraising

The Associated Press focuses on efforts by West Virginia's Republican Party to step up fundraising in the wake of disappointing back-to-back election cycles.

GOP officials say "the party raised nearly $19,000 last month, including about $7,500 from a new direct mail effort," after attracting just $717 the previous month. The party boasts it entered February with a $26,000 cash balance.

But the Republicans also have additional expenses following the 2008 election season, with the (re-)hiring of Gary Abernathy as executive director.

The party's December report shows that he was paid a $1,500 "executive director consulting fee" that month.

The Democrats reported raising $2,572 in December and ending that month with $67,700 on hand.

With a voter advantage of nearly 2-to-1, West Virginia's Democrats dominated the GOP in fundraising last year. They raised nearly twice as much from contributors, but also fielded 13 times as much in transfers from national party organizations and members of Congress. This edge allowed the state party to outspend its Republican counterpart by more than 4-to-1, while maintaining a cash balance each month that averaged $83,022 more than the GOP's.

January's reports from both parties to the Federal Election Commission aren't due until later this month.