Giuliani Reports Spending $13 Million In Third Quarter

Monday, October 15th 2007, 10:50 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Republican Rudy Giuliani spent $13 million between July and September, his biggest spending quarter yet as he positioned himself as his party's presidential front-runner.

Giuliani raised $11.4 million during the quarter, with about $10 million of it available to spend on his contest for the GOP nomination, according to a report filed Monday with the Federal Election commission. His campaign listed a total of $16.6 million cash on hand, $11.6 million available for the primaries.

All presidential candidates were required to file their third quarter reports with the FEC by midnight Monday.

Giuliani led the Republican field in fundraising this summer, according to early estimates provided by the campaigns, though his July-September total declined from his high during April-June.

Giuliani is ahead of the rest of the Republican candidates in national polls, but he lags behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the leadoff caucus state of Iowa. In New Hampshire, another important early voting state, polls show the race a virtual toss-up among Giuliani, Romney and John McCain. Fred Thompson, the ``Law & Order'' actor and former Tennessee senator, is also competitive with the top tier in state and national polls.

Giuliani's cash advantage over the rest of the field could give him an advantage in the remaining 90 days before voters make their choices in the early contests.