Lieberman Boosts Fund-Raising

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut collected just more than $5 million for his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination over the last three months, his campaign announced Wednesday, a significant improvement over his first-quarter performance.

Analysts had expressed surprise at Lieberman’s relatively weak fund-raising during the first three months of the year, given his high name-recognition as the Democrats’ 2000 vice presidential nominee. Lieberman raised $3 million during the year’s first quarter after delaying the start of his campaign until Al Gore, the party’s 2000 presidential nominee, announced in December that he would not run again.

The $5 million that Lieberman raised for the April 1 to June 30 period is expected to put him roughly at parity with most of the leading Democratic candidates.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is expected to top the field in fund-raising after collecting $7.5 million.

The White House hopefuls have until July 15 to disclose their fund-raising figures, and several are holding off.

Among those who have released figures, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio reported raising more than $1 million, according to a campaign spokesman. Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois raised $150,000, according to her campaign, and an aide to the Rev. Al Sharpton said he raised “in the neighborhood” of $75,000 to $100,000.

President Bush raised more than $34.2 million over the three-month period.