Val Demings for Congress

WASHINGTON — Rookie U.S. Rep. Dan Webster raised nearly $185,000 in the final three months of 2011 — a figure that sets him behind the $239,000 netted by his Democratic opponent, former Orlando police chief Val Demings.

Still, his campaign wasn’t sweating. Webster, R-Winter Garden, raised far less in 2010 than Democrat Alan Grayson and he still beat the Orlando incumbent — helped in large part by spending by outside groups and allies. And it’s likely that outside groups again will play a factor in this Central Florida race.

“We are grateful for the strong financial and grassroots support we’ve received from voters, many of whom helped us beat Alan Grayson … by nearly 18 percentage points, and we are confident that we’ll continue to raise the funds necessary to be successful this fall,” said Kirsten Borman, his campaign director, in a statement.