According to recently released presidential campaign fundraising numbers from Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, the two co-frontrunners for the Republican nomination, Giuliani’s campaign is a mere $300,000 behind McCain in fundraising.? The Arizona Senator has raised $1.7 million in 2007 thus far, while the former New York City Mayor has collected $1.4 million so far this year.
Team Rudy out-raised Team McCain in the last few weeks of 2006, after they had both set up their committees, however.? Giuliani received nearly $1 million in the end of ’06, while McCain received just slightly less than half that, at $472,000.
As far as transferred funds, $1 million of McCain’s presidential campaign money so far has come from funds he transferred from his Senate account, whilst $100,000 of Rudy’s presidential campaign money so far has come from funds he transferred from his 2000 Senate run account.
Romney appears to be outfundraising both of the two big-dogs, though, having earned $6.5 million, the vast majority of it on a single day a few weeks ago, though the article notes that this number might be deceptive, as a good deal of it is in “pledges” that may be as of yet uncollected.
Some race this is shaping up to be!? It’s looking doubtful that the top-tier candidates won’t break the $100 million mark by the time primary season starts in January of 2008.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:51 pm
The Washington Post also includes this crucial paragraph:
January 31st, 2007 at 9:00 pm
LJ,
True. Not much should be made of this, but it is fun to see the early numbers start rolling in.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Umm, guys, Rudy just started, but McCain’s fundraising number was pathetic for someone in office as long as he has been. Compare his numbers to Hillary’s or Dodd’s.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Marksal,
I think you misinterpret these numbers. McCain’s been criss-crossing the country trying the establish an overwhelming organization in at least a dozen key states. He’s been courting donors as well and has spent over $1 million on flight/transportation costs alone. Remember, Rudy had a fundraiser a few months ago where he made $800,000 in one night. Romney had one where he got $6.5 million. McCain has yet to even stage one yet because he’s trying to get all of his people lined up. He can work at his own pace. Also, I suggest you read this, for starters.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Why did the article focus on the “peanuts” of what McCain and Rudy has raised and not Romney, who thus far has buried them in fundraising. I bet the raw totals for Romney are far better than Rudy or McCain.
January 31st, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I hear Dodd is going to be able to raise a bunch of Money
February 1st, 2007 at 12:24 am
What matters here is cash received, not pledges. The March 31 FEC figures are what will matter. Numbers other than the official ones are easy to fudge.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:11 am
McCain did in fact have a fundraiser LJ. He raised, if I remember correctly, just under 2 million in either November or December.
February 1st, 2007 at 10:15 am
This highlights one of the reasons CFR was such a farce. McCain designed it so Senators could transfer money from their Senatorial re-election accounts into a Presidential election account — and then blocked Governors from being able to do the same.
So CFR was designed as a built in edge for candidates like McCain and Hillary, who start the 2008 race with a fundraising advantage. Luckily, it looks like Romney had no trouble overcoming that on our side, and Obama or Edwards should have no problem overcoming it on the other side. Still – starting millions of dollars ahead of your competition hardly seems fair, does it Senator??
February 1st, 2007 at 11:34 am
Hey, are you doubting the integrity of the straight something something?
February 1st, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Matt,
I can’t believe that slipped my mind. Thanks for reminding me.