Doolittle raised just under $55,000 during the third quarter of this year. Air Force reservist Eric Egland, one of several potential Republican opponents, raised almost $80,000. Democrat Charlie Brown outdid both of them, raising $212,000. Brown came close to beating Doolittle last year even though the rural Northern California district is among the most conservative in the state. 

Doolittle is under Justice Department scrutiny in the influence-peddling investigation around jailed GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Last month, a federal grand jury served Doolittle and six of his current and former staffers with subpoenas. Doolittle denies any wrongdoing.