Washington (CNN) – The Republican Governors Association reports that it raised $31 million over the past three months, bringing the amount of money it has brought in this year to $59 million.
The RGA's haul is three times the amount that the Democratic Governors Association says it fundraised in the third quarter of this year. The RGA says that prior to 2010, it never raised more than $30 million in a single year.
The RGA says it had $31.5 million cash on hand as of the end of September.
"While our fundraising haul will allow us to compete in a record number of states, we know the real measure of our success will take place in 19 days, so we are taking nothing for granted," said RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers in a statement.
The DGA announced last week that it raised around $10 million from July through September, bring the amount it has brought in this year to $27 million, with approximately $13 million in the bank as of the end of last month.
The DGA announced last week it pulled in $10 million for the same period, ending with $13 million cash on hand.
The RGA says it has received contributions from more 36,000 donors, compared to less than 2,500 donors in 2006, and it adds that nearly 95 percent of all donors have contributed $1000 or less.
Ayers announced the RGA's figures on Twitter. "Our govs, staff & donors worked extremely hard to give us the resources necessary to compete against the DGA and labor unions," he wrote, adding that "In 17 states we have spent more than 1 million dollars. In 9 states we have spent more than 3 million. 6 states more than 5 million."
He also said that fundraising totals included no foreign money.
The RGA's total for the 2010 election cycle included $1 million in contributions from Fox News' parent company, News Corporation. The DGA said that they raised more than $1 million to match the contributions.
Nineteen governorships held by Democrats and 18 held by Republicans are up for grabs in November.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/14/rga-breaks-fundraising-record/
