WASHINGTON — Front-running Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney outpaced the rest of the GOP presidential field in summer campaign fundraising, but newcomer Fred Thompson was hot on their heels.
Giuliani raised more than $11 million for the presidential race in the July-September quarter, $10.5 million of it available for the primaries. Romney raised $10 million and tapped his personal fortune to pump in an additional $8.5 million.
Thompson raised $9.3 million in the quarter. He joined the GOP campaign only last month but had been raising money throughout the three-month period.
Giuliani’s income left him with $16 million cash on hand, aides said Thursday. Of that, about $12 million is available for the primaries. Romney had $9 million on hand to compete for the Republican nomination. Thompson had $7 million in the bank. All of Romney’s and Thompson’s money is available for the primaries.
Romney’s personal contribution nearly matched the amount he had invested in his campaign for the first six months of the year. Romney, a former venture capitalist and Massachusetts governor, has dipped into his personal wealth for nearly $17.5 million.
The three Republicans lag far behind the two Democratic Party money leaders — Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Clinton has raised about $63 million for the primaries and about $17 million for the general election. She also has transferred $10 million left over from her 2006 Senate campaign. Obama has raised about $75 million for the primary contest and about $4 million for the general election.
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