This Week in Politics: Democrats Have a Cash Advantage, But it's Complicated

Democrats need at least 23 seats to flip the House, and several of the most competitive races are in New York and New Jersey. And in those districts, Democratic candidates are outraising their Republican opponents. Those numbers are important, says WNYC's John O'Connor, because "fundraising is a marker of enthusiasm among voters." 

But that's just one way to look at the numbers. Nationally, Republican groups and super PACs are outraising their Democratic counterparts. Rep. Paul Ryan's Congressional Leadership Fund has raised $120 million so far this cycle — twice as much as House Democrat's super PAC. That means, says O'Connor, that "Republicans have all this money to dump into races that are still competitive." 

And while the television airwaves may be blanketed with campaign ads, those ad buys will have been made in advance. Expect the late money to be put into social media.