Current crop of GOP candidates lack 'deserves it' factor

At this stage of the last presidential campaign cycle, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had raised $44 million — more than any other Republican candidate. We won’t know how the current candidates compare with that benchmark until they file disclosure forms with the Federal Election Commission next month. However, it’s likely most of them, even Romney, will fall short.

Slower fundraising can be explained partially by the slower campaign pace. Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani began their 2008 campaigns in February 2007, but Romney did not officially announce his 2012 run until earlier this month.