Ryan Gains on Dornan in Money Race : Politics: Challenger’s recent fund raising has given her campaign an infusion of money and optimism. But the incumbent holds a hefty lead.

Upping the ante in a high-stakes effort to oust Rep. Robert K. Dornan in the June 2 primary, challenger Judith M. Ryan raised more money during the past six weeks than the conservative congressman and dramatically narrowed his fund-raising lead, according to campaign finance reports released Thursday.

Ryan pulled in more than $127,000 in a six-week period between April 1 and May 13, garnering nearly $25,000 more than Dornan as the two battle for the Republican nomination in the 46th Congressional District.

Dornan (R-Garden Grove) maintained an overall fund-raising edge for the year, ringing up more than $272,000 during the campaign season compared to $165,000 for Ryan.

He also stayed well ahead of the former Superior Court judge in terms of cash on hand, a vital barometer of a campaign’s strength heading into the final days of the race. Dornan had nearly $167,000 still in his campaign war chest as of May 13 compared to about $70,000 for Ryan, according to campaign finance reports.

Still, Ryan supporters said they are taking heart from the latest round of contributions, which they hope are only the start of donations from national abortion-rights and women’s groups angered by Dornan’s conservative, anti-abortion rhetoric during more than a decade in Congress.

“By the end of today, we will cross the $200,000 line,” said Eileen Padberg, a consultant to Ryan’s campaign. “It’s phenomenal. We have raised $200,000 in 60 days. I think it makes us damn competitive.”

Ryan could not be reached for comment.

Ryan’s campaign finance reports show that most of the largest contributions came from special-interest groups. She received $5,000 donations from the Assn. of Trial Lawyers of America, the National Education Assn. and the United Auto Workers political action committee.

Women’s groups also weighed in with big donations. A $5,000 contribution came from the Women’s Campaign Fund Inc. The National Organization for Women donated $2,500, and other women’s and abortion-rights groups gave lesser amounts.

But the bulk of Ryan’s money--more than $56,000--came from donations of between $100 and $1,000 from individuals, most of them Orange County residents. Another $42,000 was from individuals who made contributions of $99 or less. More than $26,000 came from political-action committees.

Dornan could not be reached for comment, but a Washington spokesman said the donations to Ryan from the various political-action committees represent “a who’s who of left-wing, liberal special interests.”

“It’s what the congressman has been saying all along: He’s not running against a Republican. He’s running against a Democrat in a Republican primary,” said Paul Morrell, a Dornan spokesman. “These groups that are coming out for her, it’s just mind-boggling.”

Morrell said the political-action committees supporting Ryan make up “the liberal fringe element,” and are many of the same organizations “that are supporting candidates such as Barbara Boxer,” a Democratic congresswoman now vying for one of California’s U.S. Senate seats.

In Orange County’s other hot congressional race, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) maintained a solid fund-raising lead over challengers Peter F. Buffa, a Costa Mesa councilman, and Huntington Beach Councilman Peter M. Green in the Republican primary race for the 45th Congressional District.

Rohrabacher has already spent nearly $95,000 on his campaign and has $70,000 left. Buffa raised nearly $14,000 since April 1 and more than $44,000 overall, with about $24,000 still left. Green has raised more than $20,000 in contributions but has spent all but $676.