Campaign cash winners, losers

The books are closed on the final fundraising quarter before Election Day. Some candidates can breathe easier, with enough money to make it through Nov. 4 on last-minute ad spending and ground operations, while other hopefuls failed to impress and now must come up with quick cash or pray outside groups jump in to help them. 

We’re sad to report that the frantic fundraising emails are likely to continue — there is still the pre-general reporting period, after all.

{mosads}House Federal Election Commission reports were due online by midnight Wednesday, while Senate reports will keep trickling in over the next few days. DailyKos Elections has a handy chart of all the top House races, but here are a few standouts and flops. 

WINNERS 

Republican Cory Gardner, Colorado Senate — Not only is this GOP congressman getting good news on the poll front lately, he’s topped Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in fundraising as well. The Republican raised $4.3 million to Udall’s $4 million, but his real victory is what he’s banked: $3.3 million to the Democrat’s $1.9 million. In the expensive state, it gives him an edge, and doesn’t make him as dependent on outside money in the final stretch. 

Democrat Kay Hagan, North Carolina Senate — Money is one of the chief reasons this Tar Heel incumbent may be the only red state Democrat to survive in November. She again topped the charts, with $4.9 million fundraising to Tillis’s $3.4 million. The GOP state Speaker has picked up the pace from his initial paltry hauls, and has slightly more in the bank, but Hagan’s early spending pace is what’s kept her above water. 

Republican Joni Ernst, Iowa Senate — She’s one of the few GOP candidates this cycle who’s managed to unite the oft-warring Tea Party and establishment wings of the party, and it’s paid off. The state senator raised $6 million to Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley’s $2.8 million, though neither has released cash on hand numbers yet. 

Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky Senate — National Democrats signaled this week they wouldn’t be buying any more TV ads in the Bluegrass State, which normally would be doom for a candidate. But with Grimes’s impressive haul — $4.9 million with $4.4 still in the bank — she can keep herself afloat. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who raised $3.2 million, still has $5.2 million on hand, though. 

Republican Martha McSally, Arizona’s 2nd District — The retired Air Force colonel raised an impressive $1.4 million in her rematch against vulnerable Democratic Rep. Ron Barber, one of the best House hauls this quarter. Barber did well, too with $900,000 raised, and both are nearly on parity with cash on hand. But the Arizona Republican’s total will help her in the closing days in this top GOP target. 

LOSERS 

Democrat Mark Pryor, Arkansas Senate — The incumbent’s weak $2.2 million haul was vastly overshadowed by Rep. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) $3.8 million. What’s more, for the final stretch Pryor has just $1 million in the bank, while Cotton has nearly three times that as he has begun to pull ahead of the Democrat in the red state. 

Republican Andy Tobin, Arizona’s 1st District — The state Speaker’s $478,000 raised paled in comparison to Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s $814,000 quarter, and is further evidence of why a winnable race in such a GOP-leaning district could slip through Republicans’ hands. Tobin has just $376,000 in the bank, while Kirkpatrick has $820,000 still to spend. 

Republican Carl Domino, Florida’s 18th District — No one in either party has talked about freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) as a real opportunity in a long time, and his opponent’s fundraising shows why — the former state representative raised just $53,000 to the Democrat’s $990,000 and had to give his campaign $360,000. 

Democrat Ro Khanna, California’s 17th District — In this bitter intraparty Silicon Valley battle, Khanna is nearly out of cash in the final stretch. The former Obama administration official brought in just $323,000 and has only $218,000 in the bank. Rep. Mike Honda (D) raised just $412,000 but has spent more wisely and still has $965,000 cash on hand. 

Republican Michael Grimm, New York’s 11th District — The embattled congressman’s fundraising continues to dry up as he faces a 20-count federal indictment. He brought in just $88,000, while his Democratic challenger, Domenic Recchia, raised $416,000. Grimm could still win this contest, surprisingly, but Recchia’s fundraising and cash edge in the final stretch will make a big difference. 

—Cameron Joseph and Ben Kamisar contributed 

This post was updated at 9:44 a.m.