Democratic candidate Robin Webb has built a dominant fundraising advantage in a key Senate special election contest in Kentucky.

Webb, a state representative from Grayson, reported raising nearly $236,000 for the Aug. 25 special election while Ditty, a Greenup County dermatologist, took in more than $134,000.

Both candidates filed their 15-day pre-election reports late Monday with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

They are running to fill a vacancy in the 18th Senate District that was created this summer when Republican incumbent Charlie Borders of Grayson resigned to accept an appointment by Gov. Steve Beshear to the Public Service Commission.

The cash-on-hand disparity for the two candidates is even wider, with Webb holding a 7-to-1 lead over the Republican.

In addition to offering Democrats a chance to narrow the Republican advantage in the Senate, many observers consider the race a referendum on Senate Republicans and their effort to block video lottery machines at Kentucky racetracks. The machines would provide vital new revenue for the state’s well-respected horseracing industry, which has suffered during the recession. Democrats have mostly favored the idea.

While a fundraising advantage is always a good sign, money doesn’t guarantee victory in politics, and there’s still a week’s worth of hard campaigning before Monday’s election.

If you live in Kentucky or want to learn more about Robin Webb, you can visit her website at robinwebbforsenate.com.