Clinton reports raising record $26 million in early 2007; Edwards raised $14 million

WASHINGTON — Two Democratic presidential candidates broke previous fundraising records during the first three months of the year, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton setting a high bar of $26 million (euro19.5 million) in new contributions for the quarter.

Former Sen. John Edwards' campaign said he had raised more than $14 million (euro10.5 million) since the beginning of the year.

The Clinton campaign also announced that she had transferred about $10 million (euro7.5 million) from her last Senate campaign, bringing her total receipts for the quarter to $36 million (euro27 million). Edwards had no such transfers of money.

Neither campaign divulged how much money it had spent in the quarter or how much cash it had in hand.

Still, the total raised by each candidate outdistanced past presidential election records and set a new bar by which to measure fundraising abilities.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama _ sandwiched in public opinion polls between Clinton and Edwards _ had yet to reveal his totals.

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign said he had raised $6 million (euro4.5 million) and had more than $5 million (euro3.75 million) cash in hand at the end of the three-month period.

Sen. Joseph Biden, also a Democrat, had total receipts close to $4 million (euro3 million) for the quarter, an aide said Sunday. That amount includes less than $2 million (euro1.5 million) transferred from his Senate campaign account. Richardson, Dodd and Biden only raised primary election money.

The rest of the Democratic field and the Republican presidential candidates planned to announce their first-quarter totals over the next few days. The fundraising deadline for the January through March period was Saturday, with financial reports due April 15.

Republican Phil Gramm and Democrat Al Gore held the prior records for first-quarter receipts: $8.7 million for Gramm in 1995 and $8.9 million for Gore in 1999. Gramm dropped out before New Hampshire held the 1996 election's first primary.