By Greg Giroux, CQ Staff

The Republican National Committee (RNC) continues to outperform its partisan counterpart, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), in fundraising early in the 2008 election year. The party is thus better poised to assist in the push keep the White House in Republican hands than are its Senate and House campaign committees — which trail their Democratic counterparts — in aiding the efforts of the GOP’s congressional minorities in this year’s campaigns.

The RNC — which has as its highest priority the election of Arizona Sen. John McCain , the party’s presumed nominee, to succeed President Bush — reported raising $10.6 million in February, according to a report that it filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The DNC, which is neutral in the contest between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, raised $6.3 million in February. That was the Democratic committee’s best fundraising month of the 2007-08 election cycle, but it still ran well behind the RNC.

The RNC began March with a dominant edge in cash on hand as the campaign season went forward. The Republicans began of March with $25 million and no debts, while the DNC began this month with $4.8 million left to spend and $250,000 in debts.

The RNC expanded its cash reserves even after spending a reported $7.4 million in February. Its largest expenses went to postage ($2 million) and telemarketing ($1.5 million). The DNC spent $4.6 million last month, with its largest expense being salaries ($907,000). The DNC pays for salaries for party staff in all 50 states.

The DNC also reported more than $450,000 in transfer payments to affiliate organizations — mostly state Democratic Party committees with which the DNC raised money in “joint fundraising” efforts.

Republican National Committee (RNC)

• February 2008 receipts: $10.6 million

• Cycle-to-date receipts: $108.1 million

• February 2008 expenditures: $7.4 million

• Cycle-to-date expenditures: $86.2 million

• Cash, Feb. 29: $25 million

• Debts, Feb. 29: $0

Notable contributions from individuals

• Hank Barnette, attorney at Skadden Arps and a chairman emeritus of Bethlehem Steel Corporation: $15,000

• Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team: $28,500

• Kingdon Gould Jr., businessman and a former ambassador to Luxembourg and to The Netherlands: $28,500

• Chris Gray, professional football player with the Seattle Seahawks: $1,000

• Charles R. Schwab, chairman and chief executive officer of the Charles Schwab Corp. investment firm: $15,000

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

• February 2008 receipts: $6.3 million

• Cycle-to-date receipts: $66.8 million

• February 2008 expenditures: $4.6 million

• Cycle-to-date expenditures: $65.8 million

• Cash, Feb. 29: $4.8 million

• Debts, Feb. 29: $250,000

Notable contributions from individuals

• Jeffrey Brotman, chairman of Costco Wholesale: $2,000

• Richard A. Chesley, partner at Paul Hastings: $28,500

• Lois Chiles, actress: $750

• Judith A. McHale, former chief executive officer of Discovery Communications: $28,500

• James Q. Crowe, chief executive officer of Level 3: $14,250

• Sarah Paulson, actress: $250