Campaign Briefing: Oct 29, 2007

By DEPARTMENT Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007

"We'll be prepared for anything that happens."--Rudy Giuliani, answering a young boy's query about whether he had a plan in the event of an alien attack

Time.com

For political commentary and Ana Marie Cox's daily video webcast, visit time.com/swampland

CAMPAIGN CASH

As candidates head into the crucial final months before the first party primaries, here's a look at their cash on hand, the electoral equivalent of gas in the tank.

CLINTON

$34.5 million

Helped by Hillary Clinton's largesse, Democrats blew away their GOP counterparts in total dollars raised

ROMNEY

$9.2 million

Opponents fear that Mitt Romney's personal fortune will allow him to write a large check at the last minute

HUCKABEE

$650,000

Mike Huckabee hasn't been able to convert a second-place finish in Iowa's August straw poll into donations

EDWARDS

$10.0 million

Alone among his rivals, John Edwards has opted to accept public financing

PAUL

$5.4 million

Thanks largely to an influx of online donations by passionate libertarian supporters, Ron Paul continues to surprise

MCCAIN

$1.7 million

John McCain denies that low fund-raising numbers will force him to take public funding

For Mark Halperin's daily take on the campaign, visit thepage.time.com.com

SIDE BY SIDE

The number on Hillary Clinton's mind isn't a poll result or fund-raising tally. It's 60, the age she turns on Oct. 26. She'll mark the event with a star-studded concert and fund raiser, just as Bill did for his 50th during the 1996 campaign.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine.]

Hillary's Party Bill's Party MUSICAL GUESTS Elvis Costello The Wallflowers Aretha Franklin Jon Bon Jovi CELEBRITY HOST Billy Crystal Whoopi Goldberg VENUE AND CAPACITY Beacon Theatre, approximately 2,800 Radio City Music Hall, approximately 6,000 AMOUNT RAISED With tickets ranging from $100 to $2,300, Clinton could raise over $1 million With concurrent parties across the country, Clinton nabbed $10 million

GOD-O-METER

Holier Than Huck

Why have Christian-right A listers declined to back Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist preacher who says, "Faith doesn't influence my decisions; it drives them"? Even as he rises in Iowa polls, Huckabee's Compassionate Conservatism 2.0--which includes support for green policies and arts in education--rattles old-line culture warriors. And his flaccid fund raising keeps viability doubts alive. "They all say Mike Huckabee is a great guy," his campaign manager griped, "and then they say he can't win." Recently, Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer hinted that he was too soft (read: liberal) on foreign policy. Pastor Mike may need to rely on rank-and-file Evangelicals.

Bliefnet

For daily God-o-Meter readings covering all the presidential candidates, visit beliefnet.com

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