By JIM KUHNHENN

Republican and Democratic committees battling over control of the House held almost equal amounts in their bank accounts, giving neither side a substantial financial advantage going into the final stretch of the congressional campaign.

Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said his organization raised $8.5 million last month and had $36 million cash on hand at the end of August. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it had collected $5 million in contributions last month and had $35 million in the bank.

Both committees are in substantially better shape financially than they were at a comparable point during the 2004 election. Reynolds said the NRCC had $10 million more in the bank than it did then. DCCC spokesman Bill Burton said the Democratic group was $15 million ahead of its 2004 mark.

"It's clear that Democrats are motivated for November and our historic fundraising shows the tremendous momentum behind the idea of a new direction," Burton said.

Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the House on Nov. 7 to take control after a dozen years of Republican rule. The two parties are battling in 36-40 competitive congressional districts.

Democrats are counting on public opinion polls that show them with a national political advantage. DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., said voters are hungry for a "new direction."

"We will not be outgunned, we will not be outrun, and we are going to be in the majority in the 110th Congress," Reynolds countered.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee, the party's overarching political organization, said it would report raising $7.6 million in August, and cash on hand totaling more than $39 million. The Democratic National Committee said it raised nearly $6.7 million and had $10.9 million in the bank.

The overall election effort is being carried out by the national party committees and their respective House and Senate campaign committees. Together, their cumulative resources will help candidates in competitive races with advertising, mailing and voter mobilization. The two Senate committees did not release their August financial totals.

The RNC has already weighed in specific Senate races, buttressing the national Republican Senatorial Committee in Tennessee and in Ohio. On Tuesday, the RNC reported spending more than $500,000 in new advertising aimed at Sherrod Brown, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Mike DeWine. Overall, the RNC has spent more than $1.6 million in that contest.