COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Republicans are leading the money race going into the last few weeks of a much-watched U.S. Senate race, Federal Election Commission reports showed.

Republican Rep. Jim DeMint and Democratic Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum are vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings.

National party groups have poured $2.1 million into a race that will help determine if Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate and keep control of Hollings' seat.

Republicans finished September with $837,090 on hand after raising $750,433 that month. That fund-raising included $624,000 transferred from national Republicans and $82,923 in individual donations.

The state GOP's fund-raising in September included a $250,000 donation from the Bush-Cheney campaign and $300,000 from the Republican National Committee.

Democrats finished September with $225,533 on hand after raising $666,041. The fund-raising included $514,646 in transfers from national Democrats and $54,440 from individuals.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee donated $475,500 during September, pushing that group's total donations to $1.4 million.

Democrats appeared to be narrowing a money gap. The finished August with $55,936 in cash on hand, compared with the GOP's $427,663.

Going into the election's final two weeks, the GOP reported it had $828,715 on hand.

The Democratic Party's pre-election report was not filed Thursday afternoon.