This isn't the sort of thing we're supposed to see this supposed Republican year.
Democrat Bill White beat 10-year incumbent Rick Perry in the latest round of fundraising and goes into the fall campaign with a $3 million advantage.
In his bid to unseat Perry, White raised $7.4 million since the March primary. The Republican governor collected $7.1 million.
But spending demands on Perry in the fractious GOP primary against Kay Bailey Hutchison have left him trailing in cash on hand as the nominees look to the November general election.
The former Houston mayor has $9 million in his campaign treasury while Perry has $5.9 million in the bank.
"Momentum is building," White campaign spokesman Katy Bacon said. "People want somebody in Austin who will work for Texas, not a career politician who's in it for himself."
If the numbers look huge to you, it's because they are. Texas doesn't have pesky campaign contribution limits, so you get things like this:
Perry also collected $250,000 from Bass family interests in Fort Worth. Sid Bass gave $100,000, Lee Bass gave $50,000 and the family's political committees contributed $100,000.
About 20 percent of Perry's money came from 25 wealthy donors who gave at least $50,000 each.
This is still Texas, and it's a tough year for Democrats, but we've got a great, well-funded candidate in Bill White, and the GOP is stuck with a tired incumbent in Rick Perry who was forced to move hard-right to win his primary. Had Republicans nominated Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, this wouldn't be much of a race. But like in so many other places, the teabaggers have created a competitive race were none should exist. And White is clearly taking advantage of the situation.