Obama directs $4.5M to Democratic campaigns

The money is a high-profile act by the president to demonstrate a financial commitment to Democratic candidates.

President Obama ordered a hefty $4.5 million transferred from his campaign account on Thursday to help Democratic candidates across the country.

Obama directed that $1.5 million be sent to each of the party's committee's in charge of House and Senate races, as well as the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The cash is set to provide additional assistance to Democrats as they work to protect their congressional majorities in this fall's elections. The money is also a high-profile act by the president to demonstrate a financial commitment to backing many of the incumbents who are feeling the heat from GOP candidates on the campaign trail.

"The Obama for America and DNC commitments to this year's elections represent the largest commitment of resources the Democratic Party has ever made toward a midterm election," said DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse.

The cash is on top of the $20 million the DNC itself has already committed to party committees as part of a major effort to spend to retain its majorities in Congress, in addition to as many governors' offices as possible.