Team Rudy played poker on this one just like they did in the Second Quarter–they didn’t do a lot to bat down rumors that their finance chief missed targets so was fired and that Romney would lead the pack in the money race. They managed to make the $11 million total look impressive (or $10.5 million in the primaries). More so than that the $16 million, the cash on hand (COH), jumps out. It is more than McCain and Romney combined and will be plenty to flood NH and Florida with paid media plus some for Michigan and South Carolina as well. For McCain he must be pleased that he also beat the expectations game. I’m guessing he will have more cash on hand than Thompson (figures not yet available) given that Thompson was in start up mode this quarter. But my caveat remains: Hillary and the Democrats have a heck of a lot more money and donors.
