Bera’s Fundraising Rattles Lungren, NRCC

Although elections ultimately are decided at the ballot box, one measure of how well a candidate does at the ballot box is how effective they are in raising funds to wage a campaign.

By this measure, Rep. Dan Lungren, R- Gold River, must be very concerned with the fundraising efforts of his Democrat opponent, Dr. Ami Bera, M.D., of Elk Grove.

Bera recently announced that for the fifth straight quarter he beat career politician Lungren in the fundraising arena. For the most recent report, Bera reported he raised $230,000 this spring to Lungren’s $183,000.

Bera has a cash balance of $1.1 million to Lungren’s $800,000. Lungren is the only incumbent Republican Congress member who is lagging an opponent in this all important category.

Lungren’s disadvantage has not gone unnoticed though.

GOP brass dialing for Lungren’s dollars

In response to his lagging fundraising, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has decided to ramp up efforts for Lungren and eight other vulnerable incumbents.

Among GOP heavyweights who will make personal appeals for Lungren are House Minority Leader John Boehner, GOP Whip Eric Cantor and NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions.

Lungren and his eight other vulnerable Republican colleagues are a part of the NRCC's so-called "Patriot Program" to protect seats of at-risk incumbents.