Mitt Romney backed up his impressive New Hampshire win with another big statement that his bankroll is going to be tough to beat. Romney rolled out his latest fund-raising report, which includes $24 million raised in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone, just hours after his Granite State win. Click below to read the rest of the story.
Romney raked in $56 million for the year, dwarfing the fund-raising totals of all of his Republican rivals.
His fourth-quarter fund-raising was $10 million more than the $14 million he amassed in the third quarter.
Romney’s staff carefully timed the release of the figures to when the national media was focused on their man’s New Hampshire victory. The campaign appeared to be trying to send a clear signal that Romney’s nomination as the Republican candidate for President is inevitable.
A central tenet of the ex-Massachusetts governor’s campaign is his electability, an argument supported by his wins this month.
Romney became the first non-incumbent GOP candidate to snag victories in both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, leaving his Republican rivals to make their final stands in the next primary state, South Carolina.
But Romney’s impressive war chest has already allowed him to make substantial media buys in South Carolina and in the fourth primary state, Florida, where a win could amount to his coronation.
Romney’s team has also touted his ability to compete financially with President Obama, who may have nearly $1 billion in funds at his disposal by November.
Romney, who has $19 million cash on hand, has not donated any of his own money to the campaign, a stark contrast to his failed 2008 bid when he plunked down $40 million of his fortune.
Romney raised more than $2 million in a single day last month visiting rich donors in Manhattan and he plans a repeat visit to the Big Apple next week.
His rivals have simply not been able to keep up. Of those who have released their fourth-quarter totals, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who finished second in New Hampshire, raised $13 million, while former House speaker Newt Gingrich pulled in $9 million.
