Republicans launch online fund-raising push

Republicans concede that they have lagged far behind the Democrats in online fund-raising, but the GOP is now trying to close that gap with a new internet tool. GOP activists have just unveiled Rightroots, an online clearinghouse where Republicans anywhere will be able to contribute to the party's candidates for office around the country.

"We're hoping Rightroots takes off and becomes a major player in the online fund-raising market," said Jason Torchinsky, a Republican lawyer and activist helping lead the effort.

Rightroots is an offspring of ABCPAC, a political action committee Republicans used last fall to raise $300,000 for their candidates in the mid-term elections.

But thus far, the Republicans' efforts have paled in comparison to what the Democrats have done with ActBlue, a fund-raising powerhouse that the party has used to raise $26 million and counting for its candidates. Unlike ActBlue, which allows Democrats to contribute to statewide and state legislative races, Rightroots is focusing for now only on the races for Congress and the presidency.

So all you Republicans out there looking to help your party in next year's election, pull out your credit cards and give it a whirl.