It’s stuff like this that is making Democrats ever-so-apprehensive about the open seat race there:

Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) raised $1 million in the last three months of 2013 according to numbers provided to The Hill, continuing his steady fundraising pace but falling behind the $1.66 million his Senate opponent pocketed in the same time frame.

Peters has consistently posted $1 million quarters since he got into the race. Former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) matched his $1 million quarter and added $600,000 from her own pocket, part of the $5 million she’s promised to spend in the race.

Self-funding candidates are useful. Candidates that can match a sitting Representative’s fundraising totals are more useful. Self-funding candidates who can also keep up with sitting Representatives are the most useful of all. And, in case you were wondering… Secretary of State is an elected position in Michigan: Terri Lynn Land served two terms, then got term-limited out. This race, in other words, is increasingly becoming a problem for the Democratic party.

Funny how that can happen, huh?

Moe Lane (crosspost)