PORTLAND — Public perception has long been that Republicans are the party of big business and big money.

But as an election year rolls around in Oregon, it’s Democrats who have a clear cash advantage. And the contributions aren’t coming only from traditional Democratic donors, like unions and trial lawyers.

In the past few months, political action committees run by Democrats in both the Oregon House and the Oregon Senate have pulled in donations from timber giant Weyerhauser Co. and interest groups such as the Associated General Contractors of Oregon and the Oregon Farm Bureau.

Such groups are largely still giving to Republicans. The difference is that in the past, they might not have bothered with a Democratic donation.

The cash is a perk of the majority: Unless the GOP can steal control of the Oregon House next November, Democrats hold all the cards in Oregon politics, and like it or not, interest groups and companies will have to contend with them.

Buoyed by such donations, Democrats are steaming into 2008.

The political action committee run by the Oregon House Democrats, Future PAC, has nearly $300,000 to spend in the new year.

The political action committee controlled by the Republican House caucus, by contrast, has about $20,000 on hand, even though the PAC reported raising about $242,000 this year.

About $93,000 of that was spent on a national consulting firm, Mercury Public Affairs, that has a reputation for helping Republicans win in states dominated by Democrats. The company has worked with Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others.

Most of the legislative politicking in 2008 will likely concentrate on the Oregon House, where Democrats hold a slim advantage, 31-29. In the state Senate, where the breakdown is 18-12 in favor of the Democrats, Republicans have all but conceded that they won’t win the chamber.

As many as a dozen seats could be closely contested in the state House — and in most, but not all, Democratic contenders are off to a faster fundraising start than their Republican counterparts.

For example, in the race to capture the Gresham seat vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Karen Minnis, the two Democratic contenders have several thousand dollars apiece. The Republican is nearly $9,500 in debt, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Brent Barton, a young lawyer hoping to challenge Republican Rep. Linda Flores of Clackamas has a staggering $71,000 to spend — Flores has just shy of $10,000 on hand.

That’s not to say that there are no bright spots for the Republicans.

Democrats would love the symbolism of taking the seat of retiring House Minority Leader Wayne Scott, R-Canby, who has been the public face of GOP opposition in Salem for years.

But Clackamas County Commissioner Bill Kennemer, a Republican, is off to a clear fund-raising lead, with almost $20,000 to spend. The candidate the Democrats are talking up, Oregon City Chamber of Commerce President Toby Forsberg, has just $2,300 on hand.

Democrats like their chances to take over a Wilsonville-area seat held by retiring Republican Jerry Krummel. But the Republican candidate, public relations consultant Matt Wingard, has about $8,000 on hand. That’s nearly twice what Democrat Jessica Adamson, a construction industry lobbyist, has.

Democrats acknowledge they’ve been slow to lock down candidates in several key districts, including The Dalles and McMinnville, both areas where Republicans eked out victories in 2006.

While Democrats have been trying to recruit candidates, Republicans are already fundraising in both districts. John Huffman, who was appointed to fill a seat left by Rep. John Dallum, R-The Dalles, has $14,000 on hand; software developer and restaurant owner Jim Weidner, who is running in Yamhill County, has $7,200 in the bank.

There’s still plenty of time for dark horse candidates to emerge, for both parties. Candidates have until March 11 to file.