White beats Sharp in Texas Senate fundraising

Fundraising numbers are in for the quietest big Senate race in the country -- Texas -- and Houston Mayor Bill White is outpacing Democratic rival John Sharp.

White, who previously reported raising more than $1 million and self-funding the rest of his $1.5 million third-quarter take, beat the former state comptroller Sharp, who raised $615,000.

The two combined have raised and self-funded nearly $10 million. Republicans, meanwhile, are struggling to raise even $1 million.

State Sen. Florence Shapiro reached that mark for the cycle after leading the way with $354,000, edging out former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams's $346,000.

Railroad Commissioners Michael Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones raised $142,000 and $208,000, respectively.

The GOP picture is on hold as Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) weighs when to resign her seat to focus on her gubernatorial run. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) is thought to be a likely candidate after she resigns, and he can self-fund extensively.