By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Alabamians have doled out more than one-point-two (m) million dollars to presidential candidates so far, with Democrat John Edwards and Republican Rudy Giuliani leading the fundraising in Alabama.
The Birmingham News reported that campaign finance reports show that Edwards has raised more than 394 thousand dollars in Alabama.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton was second in the Democratic fundraising at a little more than 160 thousand dollars, followed by Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd at nearly 59 thousand dollars and Illinois Senator Barack Obama at 52 thousand 764 dollars. Obama's campaign fiance reports did not include his recent campaign fundraisers in Huntsville and Birmingham.
On the GOP side, Giuliani, the former New York mayor, reported raising 249 grand from Alabamians.
Following Giuliani were Mitt Romney with 133-thousand dollars and Arizona Senator John McCain with 110 thousand dollars.
The money raised by presidential candidates in Alabama is more than candidates have raised in other Southern states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Political leaders credit that to Alabama moving up its 2008 presidential primary from June to February, which raised Alabama's profile among the presidential hopefuls.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)