By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in April and began May with its most lopsided advantage yet in the amount of money the campaign committees have to spend in the final six months of the election year.

The DCCC raised $5 million in April, compared to $4.3 million for the NRCC, according to reports both committees filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission. The DCCC had $45.3 million left to spend as May began — or nearly seven times the $6.7 million cash-on-hand that the NRCC reported.

The DCCC probably will spend most of its treasury in the coming months in districts that Republican incumbents either are leaving open to retire or are defending against determined Democratic opposition. Some of the money will be spent to assist House Democrats who face vigorous Republican opposition in the fall.

The DCCC continues to outperform the NRCC in raising money from its own membership. In April, 14 House Democrats transferred at least $50,000 from their own campaigns to their party’s campaign committee. Just three Republicans did the same. The DCCC and NRCC covet these funds in particular because they are not subject to the contribution limits that apply to donations from individuals or from political action committees (PACs).

Three Democrats transferred $100,000 to the DCCC in April: Darlene Hooley of Oregon, who is one of a small handful of Democrats who is not seeking re-election this year; John Lewis of Georgia, who has represented Atlanta for more than two decades; and Steven R. Rothman of New Jersey, who has more money in his campaign account ($1.8 million as of May 14) than most members of the House. Rothman and Lewis are expected to easily win reelection in November.

The top giver to the NRCC in April was Rep. William M. “Mac” Thornberry of Texas, who represents Amarillo and Wichita Falls. He transferred $75,000 to the NRCC. He, too, is in a safe seat.

The DCCC reported $1.4 million in “independent expenditures” in April, most of which ($980,000) went for a special election May 3 in Louisiana’s 6th District, where Democrat Don Cazayoux was elected to succeed resigned Republican Rep. Richard H. Baker. The DCCC also deployed about $430,000 in independent expenditures in a May 13 special election in Mississippi’s 1st District, where Democrat Travis W. Childers defeated Republican Greg Davis for the seat that Republican Roger Wicker vacated in late 2007 to become a U.S. senator.

The NRCC spent about $1 million in April on independent expenditures, including $593,000 in the Mississippi contest and $436,000 in the Louisiana race. Both parties spent more on the Louisiana and Mississippi races in early May, and those outlays will be reflected on reports that are due to the FEC on June 20.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)

• Total receipts, April 2008: $5 million

• Total receipts, year to date: $92.6 million

• Total disbursements, April 2008: $4.1 million

• Total disbursements, year to date: $48.1 million