CHARLESTON -- Four of West Virginia's five representatives in Congress are up for re-election this year, but that hasn't stopped all five from together contributing more than $1.5 million to other candidates and causes.
The four Democrats and one Republican are following a national trend that has incumbents passing along funds raised to help their parties increase their ranks in the U.S. Senate and House as well as in state legislatures.
Contributions by congressional candidate committees top $44.7 million so far this election cycle, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Democrats, who control both houses of Congress, benefited from more than two-thirds of those funds.
The political action committees set up by House and Senate leadership figures have relayed another $20 million. Even though they're in the minority, the Republicans provided 57 percent of that money. West Virginia's two Democratic House members, Reps. Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall, each has a leadership PAC.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller accounts for nearly $960,000 of the state delegation's total, even though he faces a GOP opponent in the fall.
Rockefeller transferred about 86 percent of that money to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Besides aiding incumbents, the group recruits and supports challenger candidates.
Rockefeller campaign spokeswoman Jessica Tice noted that the Democrats' retaking of the Senate led to his becoming chairman of its Intelligence Committee. She also cited the 84 GOP-led filibusters that have stymied Senate Democrats repeatedly since the 2006 elections.
"Helping to expand the Democratic majority in the Senate is one of the best ways that Sen. Rockefeller can serve the people of West Virginia," Tice said.
Democrats hold a 51-49 majority only because Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., caucuses with them. But political observers expect Republicans to lose ground come November. The underlying factors include the fact that the DSCC began July with $46.2 million in the bank, nearly twice what its GOP counterpart had.
DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call last week he could not rule out reaping a filibuster-proof majority of 60 members in the general election.
"I don't know about 60 seats, but everybody's optimistic about picking up seats," Tice said.
The state party has also been a beneficiary of Rockefeller's, receiving about $91,000. Other recipients include six county party committees, and four congressional candidates from other states.
But such generosity still leaves Rockefeller with $3.3 million as he seeks a fifth term. Rahall, who also has a November challenger, similarly enjoys a flush war chest as he spreads some of the wealth.
With $1.3 million on hand as of June 30, Rahall's campaign has contributed $285,675. His 3T PAC, which reflects his mantra of transportation, technology and tourism for aiding his district, has distributed another $31,400 this election cycle.
All but about $64,000 of Rahall's transfers have been to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has the same goals as the DSCC but for the House. It also appears well-positioned for gains this fall. The DCCC ended June with $54.6 million on hand, nearly six and a half times as much as the comparable GOP committee.
Rahall expanded on the benefits from the Democrats' ascendancy in Congress. Besides Rockefeller atop Senate Intelligence, Sen. Robert C. Byrd chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Mollohan heads a subcommittee of its House counterpart and Rahall chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources.
"A Democratic majority keeps four gavels in four West Virginia hands that are constantly working to build a brighter future for our state through important committee chairmanships," Rahall said. "Someday that could be five gavels."
Democrat Anne Barth has received some of Rahall's largesse as she challenges Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, the delegation's sole Republican, in the state's 2nd District.
Rahall's remaining balance has gone to the state party, county committees, dozens of legislative candidates and several individual congressional campaigns.
"Keeping and growing a Democratic majority for West Virginia is my bottom line when contributing to other candidates," Rahall said. "Candidates who understand West Virginia's needs and opportunities, whether through their geographic proximity or committee or issue interest, garner my support as well."
Long a major recipient of GOP leadership PAC and candidate campaign transfers, Capito has returned the favor this election to the tune of $25,700 to date. She's distributed $10,799 of that among 16 Republican House candidates, the rest to the state's cash-strapped party.
Unopposed this fall, Mollohan has contributed $7,825 so far, to party groups as well as to a pair of nonprofits: the Armed Forces Foundation and Paralyzed Veterans of America. His Summit PAC has given another $13,750.
And while he won his record fifth term in 2006, Byrd continues to raise funds and share some of the proceeds. Nearly all of his $221,648 in transfers has benefited the DSCC. His campaign has also given to a scholarship fund bearing his name, the state Democratic party and a local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
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Lawrence Messina covers the statehouse for The Associated Press.
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