Members of Congress enjoy plenty of job benefits that give them a decided edge over challengers. And that’s before political action committees ever enter the picture.

With their franking privileges, U.S. representatives and senators can mail out bulletins to everyone they represent absolutely free. The mail-outs can’t be campaign literature, but it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference. It certainly doesn’t hurt name recognition when a constituent opens an envelope and finds U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan at the top of the letterhead.

On top of that communication tool, incumbents enjoy free media access that challengers can only envy. When a congressman or a senator comes to the Twin Counties, it’s news. Such visits more often than not make the front page of the Rocky Mount Telegram and other area newspapers. We appreciate the representatives’ time, but let’s be honest, they appreciate the ink.

When political action committees become involved, the scales really tilt toward the incumbents. Democracy North Carolina published a report last week that shows just how lopsided fundraising can become. Incumbent members of the U.S. House from North Carolina have raised almost five times as much money as their challengers, thanks largely to PACs.

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, had received $560,634 in campaign funds through June 30, compared to his Republican opponent Ashely Woolard, who has received $62,799. Almost three-quarters of Butterfield’s war chest came from PACs. Woolard has yet to receive a nickel from a political action committee.

In District 2, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge has received $926,036 total — 60 percent from PACs. His Republican opponent, Renee Ellmers has received $186,794, 1 percent from political action committees.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-3rd District, has received $499,944 — 44 percent from PACs. His Democratic opponent, Johnny Rouse, has raised just $3,678 — none from political action committees. It’s clear from those reports that no matter how loud the Tea Party followers get, they have quite a mountain to climb when it comes to taking on established political leaders. All the more reason that the 2010 congressional races may be the most interesting we’ll see for quite some time.