The edge in money from federal campaigns sharpens that trend. National GOP groups have maintained a 3 to 1 advantage over their Democratic counterparts in contributions to Virginia, with more money to come, party officials said. The contributions are coming from party organizations and leaders. The Republican National Committee may pump several hundred thousand dollars more into voter-turnout operations by Election Day. Jim Jordan, political director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, played down Virginia's significance as a national bellwether.
Republicans also benefit from the number of officials in key state jobs.
Database editors Sarah Cohen and Dan Keating contributed to this report.