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Democrats face stiff competition in political fundraising in 2016 after wealthy entrepreneurs Charles and David Koch pledged to spend nearly $1 billion in the next campaign cycle. Right now, they're playing the underdog and say that they have a huge void to fill.

"We're never going to match that dollar for dollar," said Ben Ray, spokesperson for American Bridge, a Democratic opposition research group, referring to the Democratic fundraising apparatus.

The Koch pledge - to raise and spend $889 million through its more than one dozen organizations - is more money than the Republican and Democratic Parties each spent in 2012 and more than President Obama spent in his record-breaking campaign in 2008, NBC News has noted. Charles and David Koch's network is likely to nearly match what each candidate is likely to spend in 2016.

Republican presidential candidate and down-ticket contenders are the ones to likely to benefit from the Koch treasure trove.

Democrats admitted nothing exists on the Democratic side that compares to the Koch's deep pockets and network.

While Democrats are competitive on a host of political fundraising, when it comes to political nonprofits that don't have to disclose their donors, Republican-oriented groups far outpace the Democrats.

In the 2014 election cycle, conservative 501c4 groups spent $128 million, according to the Center For Responsive Politics, while liberal 501c4 groups spent $35 million.

Democratic aides say the effort is going to have to be "all hands on deck." They will follow how the money is being spent and strategically place every Democratic dollar to counter. In addition, grassroots support - a large number of small dollar donors - will continue to play heavily into the Democrats' strategy, and that includes capitalizing on the Koch news. The DNC released an email to their supporters Wednesday evening, urging their supporters to mobilize and engage in response to the Koch news.

"Let them know they can't buy your commitment, they can't buy your energy, they can't buy your vote," says a graphic from the DNC to its supporters. Supports can click on a button that says, "I"m in to elect a Democratic president in 2016."

A second version invites supporters upset by the Koch's "buckets of money" to "volunteer to help elect a Democratic president in 2016."

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Democrats Angle To Compete With Koch Money

Gov. Wolf - one of Democrats' few bright spots last Election Day - urged House Democrats to remain confident in their values Wednesday as they gathered in Philadelphia for days of meetings aimed at building a strategy that better connects with voters.

"I acknowledged that we Democrats and members of Congress are probably doing a lot of soul-searching, given what happened in November," Wolf said in an interview after his address to House Democrats meeting at the Society Hill Sheraton. "What we believe makes sense. I think we have to have confidence in that."

He spoke as the lawmakers gathered for three days of closed-door meetings that will include speeches Thursday from President Obama and Friday from Vice President Biden.

The strategy session comes months after a drubbing at the polls that left Republicans in control of the Senate and with an even larger House majority, and as both parties turn their eyes to 2016 races.

Rep. Robert Brady, chairman of the city's Democratic Party, said the tour focused on "technical stuff" such as security and logistics. Wasserman Schultz "loved it," Brady said, but gave no indication of which city is in the lead.

Other finalists are also getting another look: Wasserman Schultz visited Columbus, Ohio, on Monday and is scheduled to see New York City on Friday.

Wherever the convention is held, Wolf said, the party needs to show confidence in a message based on "fairness," despite its recent losses.

"You can tell when somebody's faking it, and you can tell when they mean it," Wolf said. "My message is, we need to mean it, because it works."

He opened the event with Mayor Nutter and national AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.

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Wolf urges Democrats: Stay strong in your values

President Obamas popularity is on the rebound, and the Democrats race to replace him seems orderly and sane compared with the chaotic contest already dividing the GOP. Even in the minority, Senate Democrats still have enough leverage to slow, stall or kill Republican bills, and they are hopeful about retaking control in 2016.

And then there are the House Democrats.

With their ranks severely depleted and with no control over the chambers agenda, they are the most tangible symbols of the partys recent electoral defeats. And the wreckage has made discussions about the future difficult.

But it is that very future, and how to shape it, that will be the subject of closed-door meetings in Philadelphia on Thursday and Friday as House Democrats try to figure out how to rehabilitate themselves with voters.

Some worry that the party could lose even more seats in 2016 under House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who maintains a firm grip on the caucus and is its top fundraiser.

On Wednesday night as the meetings began, Pelosi said Democrats are eager to draw contrasts with Republicans in 2016.

Its going to be a presidential year, so we have to put on the table what we see as the big contrast in the House of Representatives, she said. The presidential candidate will go forward with whatever agenda she has. Or he.

A yawning gap has opened up in the 188-member caucus between an aging cast of urban liberals and their younger colleagues who come from the few districts Democrats control outside major cities.

Beyond those generational and demographic tensions, Democrats continue to debate the best ways to attract a winning coalition in 2016.

Our message cannot be a bunch of Democrats running around saying we have no message. Thats not a good message, said Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the caucuss newly anointed message man. Its time to get in a room and do a robust analysis of what message works and just start messaging it.

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House Democrats retake the House? Its a long shot, but theyre getting ready to try.

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