McCain’s Rising Poll Numbers Make Fund-Raising a Lot Easier

WASHINGTON — The higher his polls rise, the wider the fund-raising doors open for Sen. John McCain, his campaign officials say.

The Arizona Republican has raised more than $3 million since Oct. 1--more money than he raised during the entire three-month period from July 1 to Sept. 30. He now has taken in more than $10 million for his campaign, plus an additional $2 million transferred from his Senate account.

Earlier this month, an American Research Group poll put McCain in a statistical tie with Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the GOP front-runner, in New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary Feb. 1.

“This job is getting a lot easier as the days go on,” said McCain’s national finance chairman, Herb Allison. “People see that he has shown that where he’s campaigned, he’s winning a lot of voters. That is a precursor to how the American public as a whole will respond as the primaries get underway.”

Even with his newfound fund-raising success, McCain still runs far behind Bush in the money chase. Bush has raised at least $4.2 million since September to bring his total above $60 million and set yet another fund-raising record, according to officials with his campaign.