Romney, Giuliani Spend Heavily

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks at the Victory '08 fundraiser dinner at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich., Thursday, July 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Gary Malerba) (Gary Malerba - AP)

WASHINGTON -- Republicans Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani ramped up their presidential campaign spending in the second quarter of the year, with Romney outpacing his contributions with an aggressive media strategy.

Romney lent his campaign $6.5 million to keep up with the $20.5 million he spent from April through June. Giuliani, who raised $14.9 million for the primary contest, spent about 73 cents for every primary dollar he raised.

Financial reports filed Friday show that Romney more than doubled his television advertising in the spring, spending $4.9 million on a media strategy that helped elevate his standing from relative unknown to leading contender.

The spending on ads, Romney's single biggest expense of the quarter, was a significant escalation even for a candidate who has been pursuing a determined advertising campaign. The former Massachusetts governor spent $1.8 million on media in the first three months.

Overall, Romney reported operating expenditures of $20.4 million. He raised $14 million in contributions.

Giuliani reported $17.5 million from donors and political action committees in the quarter, but about $2.6 million was designated for the general election and can only be used if he wins the Republican nomination. Romney did not collect any general election money.

Giuliani and Romney were the first leading presidential candidates to file second-quarter reports with the Federal Election Commission. The deadline for submitting detailed finances to the FEC is midnight Sunday.

Notably, Giuliani boosted his New York fundraising base and more than doubled his donations from Florida, a key early state in the nominating contests.

The former New York mayor spent $11 million during that period, leaving him $14.6 million in the bank for the primary at the end of the second quarter. Romney had $12.1 million cash on hand. So far he has lent his campaign nearly $9 million. Romney has reported personal assets worth between $190 million and $250 million.

Both candidates are well ahead of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the cash they have on hand. McCain was forced to restructure his staff after being left with $2 million in the bank and more than $1 million in debts at the midyear point. McCain had not yet filed his detailed finances with the FEC.

McCain, speaking to reporters in New Hampshire Friday, took responsibility for the state of his campaign. He said his support for changes in immigration law had hurt him with conservative voters and his backing of the war in Iraq had driven away independents.

Overall, McCain has raised about $26 million so far this year. Counting his debt, his campaign has spent nearly the entire amount.