Clinton Sets Bar for '08 Funds

McCain has raised roughly $3 million through Straight Talk America since the leadership PAC was re-formed last summer; in the first three months of this year, the Arizona senator collected approximately $800,000.

Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and Evan Bayh (Ind.) chose to hedge their bets by raising money into their personal and leadership funds.

Kerry took in more than $440,000 for his Senate campaign and nearly $1 million for his leadership account over the first three months of the year, aides said. Kerry also is sitting on more than $13 million in leftover cash in accounts created during his 2004 presidential bid.

Bayh, who has devoted more time than any other 2008 candidate to meeting and greeting donors since January 2005, raised more than $400,000 for both his Senate committee and his All America PAC. Bayh ended March with almost $10 million in his personal account and $1 million in his leadership committee.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) reported raising $741,000 for his leadership PAC in January and February. His March numbers were not available at press time.

Former senator John Edwards of North Carolina was a straggler among prospective presidential candidates, bringing in just $261,000 via his One America committee and closing the quarter with $7,000 in the bank and debts of more than $100,000.

Political researcher Zachary A. Goldfarb contributed to this report.