Richardson Collected $7 Million in 2nd Quarter

N.M. Governor Ahead of Biden, Dodd

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) raised $7 million from April through June for his presidential campaign and had an equal amount in the bank at the end of the second quarter, according to detailed financial reports filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission.

The money raised is far short of the amounts amassed by Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), the leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination. But it pushes Richardson well ahead of rivals such as Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) and Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.).

It also places Richardson within sight of John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina and 2004 vice presidential nominee. Edwards has not filed his full second-quarter report, though his campaign has said that he raised $9 million during the period.

Richardson spent $5 million in the three-month period, half of it on direct-mail and television advertising designed to build up his name recognition and reach out to donors. One-fifth of his contributions came from his home state.

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) also filed his presidential financial report yesterday, indicating $757,000 in contributions for the quarter and $213,000 cash on hand. Kucinich has raised $1.1 million since January.

Republicans Mitt Romney and Rudolph W. Giuliani filed their financial reports on Friday. The remaining candidates from both parties have to file their reports by midnight today.