Texas Gov. Rick Perry bucked his slipping poll numbers on Wednesday with a fundraising report that proved he could raise more cash — in less time — than any one else in the Republican presidential contest.
Perry raised $17 million in the first 49 days of his campaign, from mid-August to the end of September, his campaign announced. Perry’s totals likely will catapult him to first place in the money race for the most recent fundraising period, even though he didn’t join the race until halfway through the quarter.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whose campaign hasn’t yet released its latest fundraising total, is expected to bring in at least $14 million for the most recent quarter, less than the $18 million average he raised in the first half of the year.
Perry’s totals provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the Texas governor, whose support has dropped off precipitously in the wake of weak debate performances and his support for giving college tuition breaks to illegal immigrants in Texas.
“Perry’s impressive fundraising means he’s going to be in Romney’s headlights for awhile,” said Mark McKinnon, a Republican strategist who has worked for former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.
Romney campaign aides were dismissive of Perry’s fundraising prowess.
“Rick Perry raised less than what Mitt Romney raised in the first quarter, and we feel good in the strength of our finance team and the fact that we are adding new people every day,” Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said.
Comparing their first-quarter numbers, Romney beat Perry by $1 million, though, unlike Perry, Romney had three full months to raise that money.
“The rumors of Rick Perry’s demise have been widely exaggerated,” said GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak. “What this guarantees is a long race between Perry and Romney, since they are the only two candidates who can be the nominee.”
None of the other candidates are expected to come close to Romney and Perry’s fundraising numbers. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the only other candidate who has reported his most recent numbers, says he raised $8 million, nearly twice what he raised in the previous quarter. Paul boasted that his money came from more than 100,000 donors compared with Perry’s 22,000 contributors.
Businessman Herman Cain, who won a Florida straw poll last month and has been surging in the polls since then, says he surpassed his second-quarter fundraising total of $2 million but offered no other details.
The presidential candidates must report their most recent fundraising information to the Federal Election Commission by Oct. 15.
