Republicans in Close Money Race but Can't Catch Democrats

The Republicans fighting to be their party's presidential nominee have revealed their fund-raising prowess for the third quarter of the year. And although the top tier of candidates show they're putting up a good fight with each other, they all pale compared with the Democrats.

First, the numbers. In the three months ending with September, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, brought in $10.5 million for the primary and another $500,000 for a general election campaign. Former governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts took in $10 million from contributors and loaned himself another $8.5 million. And Fred Thompson, the lawyer-turned-actor-turned-politician, collected $9.3 million from donors.

Following the big three are Arizona Senator John McCain, who pulled in $6 million after having money problems earlier in the year. Representative Ron Paul, the only antiwar candidate among the Republicans, who recorded $5 million in contributions. Former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas raised $1 million.

The figures all came from the campaigns themselves and were reported by the Associated Press. They have until Oct. 15 to officially record the numbers with the Federal Election Commission.

The Republican numbers don't look so bad, until you compare them with the Democrats. Hillary Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, hauled in $22 million for her primary campaign in the third quarter, and another $5 million for her 2008 general election fund. Her closest rival, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, raised $19 million for the primary and another $1 million for the general election.

The Wall Street Journal's Mary Jacoby puts it in perspective:

"The six top Democrats raised $62.7 million in the latest quarter compared with the six top Republicans' $41 million, a figure that excludes Mr. Romney's personal loan. When all receipts are included, from loans to transfers from candidates' previous campaign committees, the major Democrats have raised $239.7 million this year compared with $160.5 million for the top Republicans."

And this final point: When we looked earlier this week at the big haul from the Democrats, we noted that four years ago, the man who would go on and claim the party's nomination raised just $4 million in the third quarter.

Four years ago, there was only one Republican candidate—the incumbent, President Bush. He raised nearly $50 million for that period in 2003 alone.

by J. Jennings Moss