Presidential candidates raising money at record pace (2nd Roundup)

Apr 2, 2007, 16:39 GMT

Washington - US presidential candidates are raising campaign money at the highest pace ever, with New York Senator Hillary Clinton leading the pack by collecting 26 million dollars in the first quarter of this year.

Clinton, re-elected in November to a second term, is seeking a return to the White House, where she spent eight years as first lady with her husband, Bill Clinton, president from 1993-2001. Clinton, a Democrat, also added 10 million dollars in leftover cash from her senate campaign, bringing her war chest to a total of 36 million dollars.

The previous record for fundraising for this period was Al Gore, then-sitting vice president when he raked in 8.9 million dollars in January-March 1999 for the 2000 presidential race.

For the Republicans, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney reported 23 million dollars in for the January to March period of 2007, while former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani filed a total of 15 million dollars.

Following Clinton, the leading Democrat was former vice presidential nominee was John Edwards of North Carolina, who announced that his campaign had raised 14 million dollars.

Clinton was widely expected to lead presidential contenders in the centre-left Democratic Party in fundraising for the January-March period and is considered the front runner for her party's presidential nomination.

The first event to decide the major-party nominations is the Iowa caucus in January 2008, followed by major primary elections in at least half the states in February.

Among other Democrats, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson reported 6 million dollars, Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd collected 4 million dollars and Delaware Senator Joe Biden took in 3 million dollars, the Post reported.

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, considered the third top-tier Democratic contender with Hillary Clinton and Edwards, has not announced his first-quarter fundraising. Senator John McCain of Arizona, a Republican front runner, has also yet to announce his totals.