Duncan Hunter

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is stilling vying to be the Republican ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee -- a position which can hinge on how well your campaign war chest is doing.

So, how's it going?

In Congress, a good part of advancing your committee assignment relies on what you have in the bank: campaign funds buy influence in the caucus and among colleagues. With GOP Rep. Roscoe Bartlett locked in a battle over who will succeed to the top minority positions on the House Armed Services Committee, here’s a look at how it’s shaping up from the financial angle.

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) believes that he should become the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, but he is facing competition from a senior committee member.

Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) recently denied heavy speculation that he planned to resign his seat to run for a position in the New York state Senate. He also drafted a letter to colleagues expressing his interest in becoming the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee.

Among those who may seek the position, McHugh is the only one who ranks with Bartlett.

Last November, Bartlett individually addressed his Republican colleagues on the HASC, and declared his candidacy for the top position.

Three senior members on the committee, Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), the current ranking member, Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), and Terry Everett (R-Ala.) have all announced that they will not seek reelection this fall.

The impending retirement of the two top Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee has set off a long race to climb to ranking member – one in which Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is locked.

Former Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele will address the New Hampshire Republican State Committee along with invited presidential candidates during a reception on Sunday. Steele, the current chairman of GOPAC, a Republican political action committee that trains GOP candidates seeking elective office, will speak during an event called the First in the Nation Presidential Brunch.

According to Stephen DeMaura, the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, Reps. Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter have agreed to appear at the brunch. DeMaura said he expects "several other candidates" will also be in attendance.

"We are currently working with other candidates and their schedules," DeMaura told PolitickerMD.com. "All the candidates have agreed to leave the time frame open."

A glance at who filed with the State Board of Elections today:

• Rep. John Sarbanes filed in his first bid for re-election in the 3rd District.
• U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd and former Senator John Edwards filed for the Democratic nomination for president.
• Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, U.S. Senator John McCain, Rep. Duncan Hunter and finally Montgomery County resident Alan Keyes filed for the Republican nomination for president.

Former Rep. Helen Delich Bentley has endorsed Duncan Hunter for PresidentDuncan Hunter received just three votes at a Maryland Republican Party straw poll in September and is barely registers in national polls, but the GOP presidential candidate has one prominent endorsement in Maryland: former Rep. Helen Delich Bentley told PolitickerMD.com that she’s backing Hunter in the February 12 Republican primary.

Rudy Giuliani, who has the backing of Bentley’s successor in the House, ex-Gov. Robert Ehrlich, leads John McCain in Maryland by a 32%-13% margin, according to an OpinonWorks poll released in September. Fred Thompson has 12% and Mitt Romney is at 8%. Ron Paul, who was at less than 1% in the poll, won the state party straw poll.