Third Quarter Fundraising: GOP Candidates, Romney’s Haul

A look at third quarter GOP candidates’ fundraising…

Romney for President has announced it has raised more than $32 million so far in the primary. The campaign raised $14.16 million in the third quarter, and more than $18 million for the second. This total represents only primary contributions as the campaign did not raise general election funds. In 2007, Romney collected $10 million for the third quarter reporting period.

Romney for President National Finance Chairman Spencer Zwick said, “We are proud of the $32 million we have raised for the campaign so far. This is just the start of the effort to help fuel Mitt Romney’s message that will defeat President Obama next November.”

FAST FACTS About Romney For President’s Third Quarter Fundraising:

• Total amount raised in primary contributions for the year: $32.49 Million
• Amount raised in third quarter primary contributions: $14.16 Million
• Amount raised in primary contributions in the second quarter: $18 Million
• Cash on hand: $14.65 Million
• Number of contributors in third quarter: 55,947
• Increase in total donors form second quarter: 73%
• Percent of contributions less than $250 In the third quarter: 83%
• Contributions received from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• No general election money collected
• Mitt Romney did not make a personal loan

GOP presidential candidates third quarter fundraising ending Oct 15, 2011 (click on name for full report):

Texas Gov Rick Perry
Total contributions this period: $17,200,232
Total expenditures: $2,121,817
Cash on hand: $15,078,415
Debts and obligations: $339,120

Former MA Gov Mitt Romney
Total contributions this period: $14,222,571
Total expenditures: $12,281,100
Cash on hand: $14,656,966
Debts and obligations: $0

Texas U.S. Rep Ron Paul
Total contributions this period: $8,268,500
Total expenditures: $7,559,909
Cash on hand: $3,674,768
Debts and obligations: $0

MN U.S. Rep Michele Bachmann
Total contributions this period: $3,907,748
Total expenditures: $5,947,631
Cash on hand: $1,339,184
Debts and obligations: $549,604

Herman Cain
Total contributions this period: $2,813,341
Total expenditures: $1,967,152
Cash on hand: $1,333,778
Debts and obligations: $675,000

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich
Total contributions this period: $807,962
Total expenditures: $776,768
Cash on hand: $353,417
Debts and obligations: $1,192,865

Former PA U.S. Sen Rick Santorum
Total contributions this period: $704,199
Total expenditures: $743,757
Cash on hand: $189,556
Debts and obligations: $71,866

Former UT Gov. Jon Huntsman
Total contributions this period: $4,514,189
Total expenditures: $4,186,574
Cash on hand: $327,614
Debts and obligations: $3,145,594

Fundraising details from The Washington Post:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry relied heavily on large donors and money from his home state to fund his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, a new fundraising report shows.
[...]
Perry’s total puts him at the top of the Republican field in fundraising, but his reliance on maxed-out donors who are legally prohibited from contributing more means it will require a lot of work to continue raising money in light of the candidate’s recent collapse in the polls.
[...]
Businessman Herman Cain’s campaign raised $2.8 million in the quarter, including a $175,000 personal loan to his campaign, according to his disclosure report.
[...]
Altogether Paul raised $8.3 million, including a $500,000 transfer from his congressional campaign, according to a new filing. He spent the money almost as fast as he took it in, with $7.5 million in expenditures.

How did President Obama do?

Obama raised $43 million for his campaign and another $27 million for the Democratic National Committee. That’s one of the best quarters on record for an off year and, counting just the money for his campaign, well more than twice as much as any Republican candidate.

Obama’s team continues to show a knack for raising big bucks. Even as independents and key donor groups (like Wall Street) have wandered away from the president and his base grows unhappy, he’s still finding plenty of ways to raise money. And lots of it.

(emphasis added)

► Jayde Wyatt