Record Number of Democratic House Challengers Raise $1 Mil

[OhioChick]

By Jonathan D. Salant

Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- A record 22 Democratic candidates have raised at least $1 million each to challenge incumbents in the most competitive House races, another sign that Republican control of the chamber is in jeopardy in next month's election.

The number who had passed the $1 million threshold by the end of last month was nearly double the number at a comparable point in 2004, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission in Washington.

``Often, the ability of a challenger to raise money is a sign that the incumbent is vulnerable,'' said Linda Fowler, a government professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. ``On average, challengers who beat incumbents spend about a million dollars.''

The pace of Democratic fundraising is likely to increase in the wake of new polls showing the party has a strong shot at picking up the 15 seats it needs to gain control of the House on Nov. 7. A National Public Radio poll released yesterday found that voters in 48 competitive House districts favor the Democrat over the Republican by 51 to 40 percent.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a6PWq4aiPMPo&refer=home

[w4rma]

1. There are like 50 to 70 seats in play. This isn't good enough. (nt)