WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Ron Paul have banked millions, but the rest of the Republican presidential hopefuls are struggling or broke four months before the first nominating contests take place.
Ahead of a critical fundraising deadline Friday, the GOP contenders are courting donors in Texas, Georgia and New York in last-minute attempts to pick up final dollars. The push comes before they have to file a three-month summary of their finances.
Romney's campaign says he could raise as much as $18 million. Perry donors claim he could hit $10 million. Paul's campaign asked supporters to celebrate the Texas congressman's Aug. 20 birthday with a donation — and they gave him $1.6 million just that day.
The rest of the field, though, lags far behind, putting their candidacies in question.
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