Updated

The Senate Democrats' fund-raising committee, trying to regain a Senate majority, led its Republican counterpart in contributions last month but has far less in the bank as the election approaches.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (search) raised $11.2 million last month, compared with $6.5 million in fund raising by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (search).

The NRSC, whose members control the Senate 51-48 with one independent, started October with $17.2 million left in the bank and no debt. The DSCC had $8.8 million on hand as the month began; the committee declined to disclose its debt figure until Oct. 20, when its next finance report is due at the Federal Election Commission (search).

The two committees were nearly even in money raised so far this election cycle. The Democratic committee took in roughly $66.6 million from January 2003 through last month, compared with about $65.7 million for the NRSC.