Edwards Raises $7 Million In Third Quarter

John Edwards, D-NC, received $7 million in donations to his presidential campaign over the past three months. The total is $2 million less then the former senator raised in the second quarter and half the first quarter total. It puts him will behind the other two frontrunners for the Democratic nomination - Sen. Barack Obama, who announced today he had received $20 million in new donations, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, who is believed to have raised between $17 million and $19 million.

Since January, Edwards has received money from more than 150,000 donors, roughly 200,000 less than Obama

"We are thrilled with the support we've received from people across the country," said Deputy Campaign Manager Jonathan Prince in a press release sent to reporters. "Americans from every walk of life are responding to Senator Edwards' message and bold plans to change Washington."

The fundraising news comes on the heels of Edwards' announcement that he will seek public financing for the Democratic primary - a move that will infuse his candidacy with cash but limit his spending. Rival campaigns jumped on the decision as evidence that Edwards was strapped for money. Edwards' camp, in today's press release, said they were simply taking "the lead in ending the money game in Washington."