By John McArdle, CQ-Roll Call

The National Republican Senatorial Committee outraised its partisan counterpart in October — but the Democratic operation ended up with roughly twice as much cash in the bank.

The NRSC raised about $4 million and had about $5.9 million in cash on hand as of Oct. 30, according to fundraising reports set to be filed with the Federal Election Commission later this week.

The campaign arm of Senate Republicans also spent about $3.1 million last month with a substantial sum dedicated to updating the committee’s direct mail programs.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $3.7 million in October and spent $2.7 million. The committee had $11.3 million in the bank at the end of the month and $2 million in remaining debts from the 2008 cycle.

“Our supporters are energized by Senate Republicans obstructing everything in their line of sight. With so much at stake right now, Democrats have increased our cash on hand advantage for what will be an intense 2010 campaign cycle,” said DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz.

This is the fifth month this year that the Senate Republican campaign arm has outraised its Democratic counterpart.

NRSC officials were quick to point out that they are well ahead of their fundraising pace compared with the last cycle, when the committee raised just under $3 million in October 2007.

“Both the NRSC and our Senate Republican candidates nationwide continue to enjoy a strong level of fundraising success as more Americans realize the importance of returning checks and balances back to Washington in 2010,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said.