Dem senators form joint fundraising committee

Four Democratic senators who are up for reelection in 2014 have joined forces on fundraising.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) created a joint fundraising committee last week called Senate Victory 2014, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Hagan is the most vulnerable senator in the group, and could face a tough reelection fight if a strong Republican challenger emerges, according to a recent poll.

Hagan is also the strongest fundraiser of the four, ending the last reporting period with more than $1.3 million in the bank.

Shaheen, Merkley and Udall are considered likely to hold their seats in 2014.

Democrats won big in New Hampshire in November, which bodes well for Shaheen, though she has the least amount of money in her campaign coffers, ending the October quarterly with only $338,000.

Although Republicans loudly have criticized Udall, none have stepped forward yet to challenge him. He has about $1.1 million in his war chest.

Merkley ended the last reporting period with nearly a half-million dollars in the bank, and is expected to be safe in 2014.

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