Rick Perry raises $17 million in third quarter

Updated 9:30 a.m. ET

Texas Gov. Rick Perry raised $17 million during the third fundraising quarter of the year, despite a late entry into the race and a compressed time frame for raising money, campaign spokesman Mark Miner said Wednesday.

The number is significantly higher than the $10 million that the campaign had been floating as its target for the quarter. It is also nearly as high as the $18 million haul his chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, brought in during the second quarter. And it is likely higher than the $10 million to $12 million Romney is expected to raise during the third quarter.

Perry has long been known as a prolific fundraiser, and he held at least 25 separate fundraising events in states across the country since he entered the race on Aug. 13. The fundraising period closed on Sept. 30 and reports are due to the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 15.

A spokesman for Romney declined to release the campaign's fundraising total for the third quarter, but said, "We feel good in the strength of our finance team and the fact that we are adding new people every day."

The Perry campaign said in a statement that it raised more than $17 million for the GOP primary race between Aug. 13 and Sept. 30 from more than 22,000 donors. "The generous contributions from Americans across the nation prove the overwhelming support for Gov. Perry's principled, conservative leadership and vision to get America working again," said Campaign Manager Rob Johnson.

As of Sept. 30, the campaign had $15 million cash on hand. All but about $50,000 raised will go towards the primary race, the campaign said.

Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.

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