Romney Raises Up to $20 Million, Leads Polls

July 1 (Bloomberg) -- Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s campaign said today it has raised between $15 million and $20 million for his 2012 bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney had 24 percent support in a Real Clear Politics average of recent opinion polls, almost double the next-highest number for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who hasn’t said whether she will run in 2012. Romney’s committee said it raised more than $10 million in a one-day fundraising blitz in Las Vegas in May.

Campaigns released some of their fundraising totals after the second-quarter period ended yesterday. Reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by July 15.

Representative Ron Paul, a Texas Republican, reported on his website that he raised more than $4.5 million.

“It’s vital that the establishment know my campaign has the enthusiasm and fundraising of a top-tier campaign,” Paul wrote in a fundraising appeal.

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s campaign said it had taken in $4.1 million. Less than half of that amount came from the candidate, the campaign said. A former U.S. ambassador to China during the Obama administration, Huntsman entered the race June 21.

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who announced her candidacy June 27, had $2.9 million in her congressional campaign account as of March 31, all of which could be used for her presidential run.