Giuliani wins third-quarter GOP money race

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani eked out a win in the third-quarter fundraising race among Republican presidential candidates.

Giuliani took in $10.5 million in primary funds and raised more than $11 million total, the campaign reported Thursday.

{mosads}“In a continued sign of growing support, our campaign has led the Republican field for the second quarter in a row in the fundraising race,” Giuliani campaign manager Michael DuHaime said. “We’re receiving real support from across the country because voters know Rudy Giuliani is the only candidate who has proven leadership, executive experience and can beat the Democrats in November.”

Giuliani reported $16 million cash on hand at the end of the third quarter. However, since some of the money he raised was for the general election, not all of the money that the former mayor has in the bank can be used for the primary.

Slightly trailing Giuliani was former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who raised $10 million for the primary and also gave his campaign $8.5 million of his own money.

For the year, he has raised $45 million from more than 100,000 contributors, the campaign said, and has $9 million cash on hand.

So far, Romney, whose personal wealth is estimated to be about $200 million, infused his campaign with $17.5 million from his own funds.

“Our campaign made considerable progress this quarter expanding Governor Romney’s support across the country,” spokesman Kevin Madden said. “From the grassroots victory [at the Iowa straw poll] to the campaign’s first Ask Mitt Anything [event] in California, Governor Romney has built a nationwide network of volunteers and supporters that are energizing our efforts as we work towards the first votes being cast in January.”

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) also reported his third-quarter totals Thursday. His campaign bounced back from two weak fundraising quarters with a $6 million haul that surprised many observers.

“We are thrilled that with so many Americans supporting John McCain, we’re now on sound financial footing and running a robust campaign gaining clear momentum in the early states,” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said. McCain has $3.6 million cash on hand.

Earlier this week, former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.) announced that he had raised $9.3 million and Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) said Wednesday that his campaign had received more than $5 million in contributions.