Huckabee lags in fundraising efforts

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, despite rising poll numbers, is having trouble raising money to finance his campaign for the GOP nomination for president.

Huckabee's strong showing in a recent Iowa poll and a straw poll of evangelical voters last month hasn't translated into more campaign cash, USA Today reported Monday.

The latest figures from the Federal Election Commission place Huckabee far behind rival Mitt Romney, the top Republican fundraiser.

From July 1-Sept. 30, Romney's campaign took in $18.4 million compared to just mroe than $1 million for Huckabee.

A former minister, Huckabee spent the weekend raising money in Texas with appearances Sunday at churches in Plano and Irving, USA Today said.

His long-shot bid for the White House has been built on a strategy of seeking support from evangelical Christians who make up a chunk of Republican voters in Iowa.

"Historically, there are three tickets out of Iowa," Huckabee said in the USA Today article. "First class, business and coach. If you don't get one of those, you go home freight."