By Ruth Marcus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997; Page A21

In the first six months of 1997, incumbent members of the House of Representatives raised $52.9 million, up $7.4 million from the comparable period two years ago, according to a new report by the Federal Election Commission.

Challengers raised $4.3 million, the agency said.

Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) had the largest war chest, with $2.7 million cash on hand, followed by Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-Mass.), $1.8 million; Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), $1.1 million; and Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.), $1 million.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) took in the most – $1.8 million – but spent about the same amount, leaving him with $855,000 cash on hand.

Leading the PAC pack was Gephardt, who raised $640,000 from political action committees, far ahead of the next in line, Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), with $284,000.

Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) raised $233,000 from PACs; followed by Gingrich, with $228,000; and Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), $219,000.

As usual, Republicans were ahead in the money game. The 227 House Republicans raised $30.8 million, while the 207 Democrats raised $22.1 million.

On the individual level, Republican incumbents reported median receipts of $106,000, compared with just under $73,000 for Democrats. That was less than the gap of $110,000 to $65,000 in 1995, following the GOP takeover of Congress, but far different from 1993, when Democrats outraised Republicans $70,000 to $63,000.

Freshmen raised even more than veteran members. The 42 Democratic freshmen raised $5 million, with a median tally of $115,000, while the 32 Republican freshmen raised $4.8 million, a median of $147,000.

Overall, House Republicans raised 54 percent of their money from individuals and 42 percent from PACs, while the Democrats raised 47 percent from individuals and 49 percent from PACs.