Republican presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani smiles as he stands over 5-month-old Birch Carter while greeting supporters and customers at a coffee shop Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, in Clayton, Mo.

Giuliani Raises $11 Million, Leads GOP

Republican Rudy Giuliani raised more than $11 million for his presidential campaign over the past three months and ended the quarter with more than $16 million on hand, his campaign reported Thursday.

More than $10.5 million of his fundraising was for the primary contests. The balance was designated for the general election. The figures make Giuliani the leading Republican fundraiser for the second consecutive quarter.

Good news for Rudy.

Bad news for the rest of the GOP field.

Of course, money isn’t everything but……..

• John McCain’s campaign is broke or in debt, having raised $6 million for the quarter

• Mike Huckabee raised only a $ 1 million

• Mitt Romney’s campaign would be broke unless he wrote himself a check, having raised and burned  through $9 million or so.

• Fred Thompson came in with $8 million

Rudy has a long way to go in fundraising to match the Democrats though. With the field obviously narrowing will more GOP donors step up for Rudy?

Stay tuned……

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Is a Clinton Presidency Inevitable Like 1992?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Hillary Clinton for Southern Accent Pander

Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire - Rudy Gains as Romney Declines

Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction Part Two

Rudy - Send Judith to Voice Mail

Anti-Giuliani Group Punks Rudy But Gets IT Wrong

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction

Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Continues to Contend in South Carolina

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Wins GOP Women Straw Poll

Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Contends in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right?

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks to a group of supporters at Dino’s Seaville Diner in Dennis Township, N.J., Monday, Oct. 1, 2007.

A new NewsMax/Zogby survey shows the Mitt Romney lead in New Hampshire being cast aside, turning the state’s Republican nomination race into a cliffhanger featuring a clash of styles and substance.

The GOP NUTS:

In the Zogby poll Romney has lost 11 points since May. In the recent ARG poll Mitt has lost 3 points and McCain surged. The CNN poll shows only a 1 point Romney lead (within the margin of error).

New Hampshire is a horse race.

And, Rudy Giuliani has been the beneficiary of the Romney decline.

Just a few weeks ago the Romney folks were bragging that Romney was going to ride the momentum from wins in Iowa and New Hampshire to South Carolina and Florida.

Well, Mitt’s poll lead has collapsed in New Hampshire. So, back to the drawing board for Mitt’s strategy team.

Rudy has made a point of contending in ALL states and conserving campaign resources. Romney has tried for a knock out blow in Iowa and New Hampshire while burning through campaign cash.

Let’s look at the Real Clear Politics graph and chart:

But, why has Romney collapsed and what portends for the future?

But it is possible that something more fundamental is at play here. New Hampshire is the state of “live free or die,” where religious conservatives do not dominate the G.O.P. electorate and libertarianism has a long tradition. So while Mr. Romney was affecting his socially conservative, anti-gay-marriage rebirth with an eye toward Iowa, Republicans in New Hampshire have watched approvingly as Mr. Giuliani (and John McCain, for that matter) pounded the lectern about taxes and security.

What’s more, New Hampshire is a state heavily influenced by the Massachusetts media market, and which is overrun by transplants from Massachusetts. While Iowa has only ever known the religious conservative Mitt Romney, the residents of New Hampshire will be keenly aware of the stark changes Mr. Romney has undergone in order to accommodate his new political goals.

A dilemma for Governor Romney, wouldn’t you say?

Play the moderate to win New Hampshire or lose your NEW “BRAND” as a social conservative and lose South Carolina, Florida and other southern states.

Can’t have it both ways.

In any case, Giuliani is the WINNER here.

Previous:

Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction Part Two

Rudy - Send Judith to Voice Mail

Anti-Giuliani Group Punks Rudy But Gets IT Wrong

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction

Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Continues to Contend in South Carolina

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Wins GOP Women Straw Poll

Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Contends in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right?