By Billy Davis

Mississippi state Sen. Alan Nunnelee outpaced his Democrat opponent in campaign fundraising during the second quarter of 2010.

For the Nunnelee campaign, that was the good news.

The bad news is that, despite Nunnelee raking in more campaign cash, U.S. Rep. Travis Childers is enjoying a four-to-one advantage over his Republican challenger as they head toward November.

Childers presently has $903,469 in campaign donations, known as cash on hand. Nunnelee has $233,205.

Nunnelee outraised Childers by approximately $35,000, bringing in $312,000 during the current election cycle, according to figures released to the Federal Election Commission.

The candidates were meeting a June 30 deadline to report campaign donations to the Federal Election Commission.

Campaign donations pay the salaries of campaign staff, yard signs and campaign literature, among other expenditures. The flow of campaign funds can also point to whether donors view the candidate’s ability to win office.

Nunnelee has said his campaign spent a half-million dollars in the June Republican Primary, depleting his cash on hand for the present race for the House seat.

Childers, who represents Mississippi’s 1st District, is seeking to win his first full term in the coming November 2 General Election.

Nunnelee is considered Childers’ toughest opponent among a slate of independent and third-party candidates in the November 2 General Election.

The current race is set against a backdrop of high-stakes politics for both Republicans and Democrats.

A White House spokesman caused a ruckus last week when he said Democrats stand to lose control of the House in November.

A House Republican seconded that opinion Sunday, saying Republicans may win more than 40 seats and win back control of the House.

The 1st District seat moved into Democrat control two years ago, when Childers won under the banner of a social and fiscal conservative. He is a member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition in the House.

Childers won the seat with 54 percent of the vote, but 64 percent of the district voted for John McCain over Barack Obama.  

Congressional Quarterly is rating the 1st District race a Tossup. Political Web site Real Clear Politics shows the 1st District seat “leans” toward Nunnelee and the GOP.

The Childers campaign last week used the latest campaign figures, as well as recent endorsements, to describe such campaign activity a “devastating blow” to the Nunnelee campaign.

The carefully crafted e-mail, without divulging that Nunnelee had outraised Childers, pointed out the four-to-one war chest of the incumbent congressman.  

Childers has enjoyed endorsements from the National Rifle Association and the National Right to Life, a pro-life organization, in recent weeks.

The incumbent congressman has also received the Spirit of Enterprise award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Among other candidates, independent Les Green, of Hernando, reported he had raised $28,091 with only $1,081 of cash on hand.