Tale of two LA congressional campaign planets

Two different sets of Democratic incumbents in the House are facing each other this year due to redistricting (and the unwillingness of anyone to back down or move.) In the San Fernando Valley showdown, Rep. Howard Berman raised over a million dollars in the last few months of the year, thanks to Hollywood and high friends in Washington. Rep. Brad Sherman raised far less, but has more.

Cash on hand as the campaigns head into 2012:

Rep. Brad Sherman: $3.7 million
Rep. Howard Berman: $2.9 million

Compare that to the southern Los Angeles County district where Democratic incumbents Rep. Laura Richardson and Rep. Janice Hahn are running against each other. It's like they are from another planet than Sherman and Berman, not the same party.

Cash on hand:

Rep. Laura Richardson: $132,000 (with $438,000 in campaign debts)
Rep. Janice Hahn $76,000 (with $157,000 in campaign debts)

AP story on today's fundraising reports.

Also this: Berman, in his 15th term in Congress, sends out what he bills as his first fundraising email ever.