Dems hold cash edge over GOP in '08 bids

WASHINGTON -- The leading Democratic presidential candidates have nearly three times more money to wage their battle for the presidency as their Republican rivals, campaign reports released Monday show.

It's another sign of the intensity of the race — and a measure of the edge that Democrats have over Republicans in the 2008 contest for the White House.

Overall, Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson have about $104 million cash on hand, compared with nearly $36.5 million held by Republicans Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John McCain.

"This speaks to the enormous energy among Democratic voters," said Anthony Corrado, who teaches government at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. "The cash reflects a very resounding message about change, and it looks like voters are going to hear a lot about change in the coming weeks given the amount of cash that's available to make that case."

Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, has more cash in the bank than any candidate in either party: $50 million. Most of that money — $35 million — is available for her to fight for her party's nomination.

By comparison, rival Barack Obama has $36 million in the bank, of which $32 million is available for the primary.

Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle touted the cash-on-hand total as a sign of strength. "We will now have the most resources of any campaign to help spread our message," she said in a statement issued Monday night.

Kareem Crayton, a political scientist at the University of Southern California, said Clinton and Obama each will have ample money to compete head-to-head in the early voting states.

However, the size of Clinton's combined primary and general election funds "is symbolically important," he said. "It says that people believe enough in her candidacy to put their money on the table. It says people want her to be the candidate in the general election."

Among Republicans, Giuliani had the most cash on hand: $16.6 million. That money gives him a considerable financial edge over the rest of the GOP field with just three months left before voting starts in states such as Iowa. Romney is second with $9.2 million.