Romney Raises $18 Million

Mitt Romney raised about $18 million in the first quarter—enough to lead the GOP field but not enough to clear up some doubts about his candidacy. It’s less money than the $23 million Romney raised in the first quarter of 2007 and puts him well short of the $50 million Politico says he hoped to raise in the first half of 2011. However, Romney has also not kicked in any of his own cash yet. Meanwhile, the latest PPP poll shows Michele Bachmann surging to 18 percent in Iowa and the favorite of Tea Party voters; Romney still leads in Iowa with 25 percent. He also still leads in New Hampshire, although he lost 12 percent of his support since the last poll.