Democrats stockpile cash in key Senate and House races amid Biden’s struggles

Democratic congressional candidates stockpiled serious campaign cash over the last three months, new fundraising reports show, as the party contends with an increasingly well-funded GOP and looming questions about President Joe Biden’s strength at the top of the ticket.

The financial landscape is positive for Democrats broadly — all but one of their leading candidates in the 10 most competitive Senate races outraised their likely Republican opponents, as did virtually every leading Democratic House candidate in seats rated as “toss ups” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.

Still, Republicans feel good about where they are, as many of their key House candidates have been collecting cash for a tough fall, while some of their top Senate candidates have been tapping into their own personal wealth to keep pace with their opponents. And the overall Senate landscape remains friendly for the GOP.

But it’s all taking place against historic tumult, in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and as Democrats weigh whether Biden should be their presidential nominee — dramatic and difficult developments that could cast a long shadow on the November election.

Democratic Senate candidates had been working to distance themselves from the top of the ticket even before Biden’s disastrous debate performance last month, and are expected to keep doing so.

Last week, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana launched a TV ad saying he is “taking on everyone” to address rising costs, adding, “I voted to force the Biden administration to expand drilling, to bring down the price of energy, made drug companies lower the cost of prescription drugs.”

Republicans are expected to keep tying these