Giuliani Reports Nearly $11M In Bank

(AP)  Rudy Giuliani spent nearly $5.7 million on his presidential campaign during the first three months of the year, a display of frugality that left him with a healthy amount of cash on hand.

The campaign reported nearly $11 million in the bank and contributions of $13.6 million for the primary election. The campaign also raised $1.1 million for the general election, which Giuliani cannot use unless he wins the Republican nomination.

The amount in hand is significant because it puts Giuliani on par with Mitt Romney, one of his top rivals.

Romney aides last week reported raising nearly $21 million and having more than $11 million cash on hand for the primary at the end of March.

Sen. John McCain, once perceived as a front-runner but who now trails Giuliani in public opinion polls, has reported raising $12.5 million during the first three months. McCain is expected to show a high spending rate.

The former New York City mayor was the first presidential candidate to file an official first-quarter finance report. The deadline for filing the documents is midnight Sunday.

Giuliani aides said he only had 28,000 individual contributors during the first three months of the year despite leading the GOP presidential field in polls. Aides said the campaign received contributions from donors in all 50 states.

The number of donors is significant because it offers a glimpse of the breadth of a candidate's support. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, for example, has reported more than 100,000 donors. Romney aides have said the former Massachusetts governor had 33,000 donors for his $21 million raised.

"Our biggest challenge is catching our organization up to the popularity of Rudy," said Roy Bailey, the Giuliani campaign's national finance chairman.

Besides spending less than $5.7 million to build an organization in the expensive New York market, Giuliani also reported less than $89,000 in debts. Aides said the report illustrated Giuliani's tightfisted management. Giuliani has been touting his credentials as a fiscal conservative.

"That indicates the efficient nature of the campaign," said Patrick Oxford, the campaign's national chairman. "Rudy is all over us on this, just like he was when he was mayor."

His contributions, from individuals and political committees, totaled $14.77 million. Of that $13.6 million is for the primary. He also transferred $1.85 million to his campaign from his Senate exploratory committee.

Aides said 64 percent of the contributions to Giuliani's campaign were for $100 or less.

[fizzal-2009]

Now if only we could apply some of that cash they recive too place their picture on a postage stamp maybee we wouldn,t be hit with a postage increase every year?

[fredgrad2000]

I hope someone like Rudy or McCain can break the hold the religious right have on the GOP - I would like to see the REAL GOP return, the libertarian, small government, low taxes, strong law and order, and fiscally responsible party I was once very proud of return...not sure that can happen by 2008, but breaking the religious right's hold on our process is the requisite first step...McCain or Guiliani winning the nomination in 2008 would show a step in that direction.

[omega39-2009]

It looks like Rudy has real potential divide the vote between common sense Republicans and the Religious Reich.

[forthepeopl1]

THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST OUR GOVERNMENT NOW....

ITS OUR RIGHT AS AMERICANS AND ITS IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING WHAT THE AMERICANS ARE ASKING FOR.

SO LETS CHANGE IT. THEY CANT GET ALL OF US, AND IF WE CHARGE ALL AT ONCE THEY CANT SHOOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AT THE SAME TIME. SO LETS GET EVERYONE READY TO HAVE THE GREATEST REVOLUTION THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD.

THEY WANT A CIVIL WAR, THEY WILL HAVE IT GIVEN TO THEM ON A PLATTER.AMERICANS NEED TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA, BEFORE ITS TO LATE..

EMAIL ME TO WHEN YOU ALL WANT TO START. [e-mail] AND I WILL BE READY TO GO AND GIVE MY BLOOD FOR OUR COUNRTY.AS A VET I KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT.AND THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT RIGHT. now stand up americans dont let them destroy our america

[zootallures2]

Saddam saved the bodies of Irainian soldiers to return them to Iran for burial.

Rudy put the victims of 9/11 in a landfill to later be used to fill NY city street pot holes.

[forthepeopl1]

Glenn Greenwald has a nice post which catalogs just how common this Administration "accidentally" loses information and evidence, particularly when it's vital to an ongoing investigation. It's not just once or twice, but CONSTANT, almost as if it's STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE for these clowns.

And I quote:

This administration does not believe it is subject to oversight or the rule of law. They hate investigations and scrutiny and do everything possible -- legal and illegal -- to block them...

...They affirmatively believe in lying and destroying evidence and obstructing investigations in order to conceal their behavior. They believe that anything they do is, by definition, good and right, and therefore there is never anything wrong with attempts to hide it or even misleading the country about what they did.

i want the senate to send a supeana to this fasish little bratt dana in the press office that thinks her kings do nothing worng.. she would run for the hills,,i hate her lieing its to bad she hook up all the decete.

i only wish is that someone she loves dies in this war that her kings stared.. and maybe she would have a differant look on them.

[toldyouso21]

Nope, don't care for philanderers but gotta say it--I AM impressed with such wise spending and maybe, I will take a better look at Rudy. Lose the pro illegal war stance, and don't get in bed with Bush -- Rudy ,and maybe Independents and Democrats might be interested in you (hint: no matter what--you need some of us to win)

[asor1-2009]

Shame on a beautiful, rich, intelligent country to put up with this conMan and his millions. Nothing for the poor, the homeless, the sick without insurance, but millions for his stupid campaign.

[j-whitman]

$11 Million will by Rudy new dresses.

[mitch0927]

And no money for education, healthcare, and social security, but these guys are swimming in cash. Shame on the United States for allowing this kind of money laundering to be going on.