It's never too early to start campaigning?

U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Olympia, hit the nail on the head last month in an email asking his supporters for money:

“I know what you’re thinking: Why on Earth do we need to raise money in February?!”

Heck was elected to his first term in Congress in November and took the oath of office in January.

“Unfortunately, we live in a time of nonstop campaigning,” according to his February fundraising email. “The same sort of groups that went after President Obama last year are already raising millions of dollars for their next attacks. But in 2014 they won’t be going after the President – they’ll be focused on Congressional races like Denny’s. If we want to be ready for what these shady groups may bring in 2014, we need to start today.”

His request isn’t unusual. In fact, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, sent out a fundraising email on Dec. 13, just six weeks after she won re-election to Congress.

The subject line of the email: “They’re after us.”

“Early money is important for two reasons: it shows the other side that we have a strong team of supporters who are committed to my re-election, and it also gives us the resources needed to fight these negative attacks lobbed against me,” Herrera Beutler explained in the email to her supporters. “We were prepared for a fight this last election because we started fundraising soon after I won in 2010. During the ‘off year’ in 2011, we raised over $800,000. Our goal this time around is $1 Million.”

Herrera Beutler also said Democrats are eying her district in their attempt to gain more seats in the House, which has a Republican majority.

Heck represents the state’s 10th Congressional District. Prior to redistricting, he ran unsuccessfully in the 3rd District against Herrera Beutler. U.S. House members serve two-year terms.

Stevie Mathieu: 360-735-4523 or stevie.mathieu@columbian.com or www.facebook.com/reportermathieu or www.twitter.com/col_politics