Updated 8:57 a.m . | The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $6.8 million in February, bringing its total fundraising for the cycle to $66 million.  

According to figures announced by the committee Thursday, the DSCC has now raised more than $13 million in the first two months of the year. It ended February with $18.1 million in cash on hand and paid down its debt to $1.2 million.  

The NRSC raised less than the DSCC — $5.47 million — during February, according to fundraising totals the GOP committee released on Thursday morning. The NRSC has $12.75 cash on hand and zero debt. In their fight to hold the Senate majority, Democrats can lose no more than five seats. The expanding playing field — including former Massachusetts GOP Sen. Scott P. Brown’s move toward a New Hampshire Senate  bid last week — is largely in Democratic territory . Meanwhile, the tendency of the party’s base voters  to drop off in midterm cycles provides another hurdle for Democrats.  

“We know our biggest challenge in the midterms is turnout,” DSCC Executive Director Guy Cecil said in a statement, “and we need our supporters to continue to help us win each month so we can provide our campaigns with cover on television and fund the most aggressive field effort in history.”