Democrats top Republicans in fundraising

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. strategists in both parties said lopsided fundraising indicates Democrats are more energized this year in their quest to reclaim the White House.

“This just shows the difficult political climate that Republicans are facing,” Scott Reed, a Republican strategist, told The Washington Post. “The bright side is that next spring, the Republicans will have plenty of money to give the candidate who goes up against Hillary Clinton.”

The Democratic hopefuls raised significantly more money during the last three months than their GOP counterparts, the Post reported.

On the Democrats' side, Barack Obama of Illinois raised at least $20 million during the summer while aides to Clinton, of New York, said she raised a similar amount. John Edwards of Carolina raised $7 million and Bill Richardson of New Mexico raised $5.2 million.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts raised about $10 million while Rudy Giuliani had yet to release his tally but said he would do as well as the other Republicans, the Post reported.

Aides to Fred D. Thompson said he raised at least $8 million in his first quarter as a candidate while John McCain of Arizona raised more than $5 million during the summer, the Post reported.