Clinton leads 2008 money chase

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton raised $27 million for her 2008 presidential bid in the third quarter, leading all rivals and strengthening her front-runner status three months before the first votes.

Clinton's campaign on Tuesday reported raising $22 million for the primary nomination race that begins in January and another $5 million for the general campaign ahead of the November 2008 election.

Her fund-raising beat top rival Barack Obama, the first-term Illinois senator who raised $19 million in primary money and another $1 million in general election funds in the quarter that ended on Sunday.

The strong performance defied historical trends for the third quarter, when presidential candidates typically raise less money as they compete for attention with summer vacations.

It also gave Clinton a fresh edge on Obama in the one area where his campaign had showed the most strength -- raising money.

"Hillary wanted you to know that this was our best quarter yet," her campaign manager, Patty Solis Doyle, said in an e-mail to supporters. "This is the moment when your dedication defied the skeptics."

Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, has taken a big lead over her Democratic rivals in national opinion polls in recent months, solidifying her position at the head of the field.

But Obama had raised more money than Clinton in the second financial quarter and built a vast grass-roots network of more than 350,000 donors.

The Clinton campaign reported adding 100,000 new donors during the quarter, while Obama added 93,000 new donors.

DONATIONS ABOUT EVEN

The two campaigns have raised similar amounts -- about $80 million -- in donations over the first nine months of the year, although Obama's campaign noted he leads in funds for the primary nominating race.

Clinton's general election funds can only be used if she wins the nomination and does not take federal funds.

An Obama spokesman criticized Clinton's refusal to stop taking money from Washington lobbyists.

"We have raised a historic $74.9 million in dollars available for primary spending, without transferring one cent from any other campaign fund and with no money from federal lobbyists or PACs," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

Candidates for president must report their fund-raising activity every three months. The third quarter ended at midnight on Sunday, and detailed financial reports must be submitted to the Federal Election Commission by October 15.