DNC Transfers $374,000 to State Party

The Virginia Democratic Party picked up $744,000 last month for its efforts this year in support of federal candidates, two-thirds of which came from the Democratic National Committee and Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential campaign.

Campaign finance reports filed yesterday show the state Democratic party's coordinated campaign received $374,000 from the national party last month. Obama's campaign also transferred $131,000 to the state party. The state party also received $76,000 from two joint fundraising committees it set up with Democratic Senate candidate Mark R. Warner (D).

The party's remaining money came from 30 individual contributions, including $10,000 from Bernard Rapoport of Waco, Texas, who made millions in the insurance industry. The party also collected $5,000 checks from the Sheetworkers, International Association of Firefighters, National Air Traffic Controllers and American Federation of State County & Municipal Workers unions.

Despite all the national money, the Virginia Democratic Party still spent $33,000 more than it raised last month. The state party had $695,000 in its federal account as of July 31, but Democratic officials say they raised a half-million dollars for the party at a fundraiser last week. The money can be used to support Obama and Democratic congressional candidates.