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First Read Flash: Fun with numbers

Fun with numbers. With the 2nd Quarter fundraising reports due to the FEC last night at midnight, top vulnerable House Republicans outraised their Democratic
This year Washington, DC, and the rest of the country celebrate 237 years of independence. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
This year Washington, DC, and the rest of the country celebrate 237 years of independence.

Fun with numbers. With the 2nd Quarter fundraising reports due to the FEC last night at midnight, top vulnerable House Republicans outraised their Democratic counterparts, with an average of $430,000 to $314,000 over the past three months. The average compares the 11 Republicans on the NRCC's "Patriot Program" to the 26 Democrats on the DCCC's "Frontline" program. Republicans have the edge on cash on hand, too, with an average of $621,172 in the bank among Patriot Program members, compared to $493,675 for Frontline members. 

The NRCC's comparisons were provided exclusively to NBC News. "Clearly House Democrats are seeing the after shocks of the countless scandals  and the impact of supporting the Obamacare train wreck," said NRCC communications director Andrea Bozek. "Republicans continue to be on offense with these impressive fundraising totals."

Old Dominion cash race. "Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Terry McAuliffe, outraised his Republican challenger Ken Cuccinelli in June, and McAuliffe's campaign has more than twice as much money in the bank," NBC's Michael O'Brien reports. "McAuliffe, a former national Democratic Party chief who cultivated a reputation as a talented fundraiser, collected $1.9 million in June, according to a release from his campaign on Monday afternoon. McAuliffe reported having just over $6 million in cash on hand at the end of last month. Cuccinelli, Virginia's conservative attorney general, raised $1.1 million last month. He had $2.7 million in the bank through the end of June."

Deal or no deal? "After an unusual marathon meeting attended by almost all senators, lawmakers said late Monday night that they have not yet reached an agreement to avert a showdown over Senate rules governing the confirmation of executive branch nominees," NBC News reports. Senate Majority Leadery Harry Reid "told reporters that the series of votes on executive nominations that could precede a standoff are still scheduled for Tuesday morning. A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the meeting that talks are still ongoing."