Marco Rubio's White House bid raises $44 million - putting Florida senator in third place in Republican field (although Trump has yet to go on fundraising drive)
- 44-year-old's fundraising since January compares to $114 million total reported by Jeb Bush's campaign and PACs backing Bush
- Ted Cruz has raised $52 million but Donald Trump, who came top in recent poll and second in others has yet to start fundraising
Marco Rubio has raised more than $12 million for his White House bid, his campaign says.
The Republican presidential candidate also gets the help of outside groups that can accept unlimited donations, and they say they've raised another $32 million.
The money for Rubio's official campaign comes from all 50 states, and contributors are limited to checks of no more than $2,700.
There's lots of competition on the fundraising front.
On the trail: Marco Rubio spoke at a campaign event in Henderson, Nevada, on Saturday. He will face stiffer fundraising competition with the entry of Scott Walker into the field today
Press the flesh: Rubio on the campaign trail in Nevada. He
Fellow Florida politician Jeb Bush, a former governor, raised a record $114 million since January, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz's supporters have given $52 million to his presidential effort.
In each case, the majority of the money raised went to outside groups that face legal restrictions on how much they can help the candidates - so-called Super Political Action Committees (PACs).
Super PACs cannot co-ordinate their efforts with the official campaign, but they also have the advantage of having no limits on the amount they raise.
The Rubio totals compare unfavorably to those of Bush, who was previously a close friend and ally.
Bush has shattered political fundraising records with an extraordinary haul designed to shock and awe his Republican competitors. Now he has to figure out how to spend it.
Bush and his allies reported Thursday they had collected more than $114 million through the end of June, including $98 million in the bank. That's likely at least twice as much as his next closest Republican competitor.
Yet Bush has no direct control over 90 percent of the money. The total includes $103 million raised by a super PAC. And by law, the super PAC can't take direction from Bush's Miami-based campaign. The two operations have limits on how they can communicate.
Competition: If Donald Trump turns from his current campaign effort, which relies on his declared net worth of $9 billion, to an approach involving fundraising, polls suggest he could be a formidable competitor
The system was designed by Bush's most trusted advisers. It's a strategy untested in modern politics.
Rubio - and the rest of the Republican field - face another challenge on fundraising from Donald Trump.
He has so far not raised any money, relying on his formidable personal wealth, which he declared to be $9 billion, making him the richest presidential candidate ever.
However a Super PAC which appears to be in Trump's camp was set up last week, ABC News reported.
Make America Great Again uses Trump's campaign slogan but has not formally declared any links to his campaign.
Trump's first place in a recent poll suggests that if he were to turn to fundraising, he could be a formidable competitor.
Rubio himself will also face direct opposition from Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor who enters the race formally today.
Both are positioning themselves as young faces for the conservative wing of the party.
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