Cain raking in more cash but still trails Perry and Romney

Herman Cain, the businessman whose fortunes as a presidential candidate are rising in national polls, raised $2 million for his campaign in just the last two weeks, his campaign reported Saturday.

That amount comes in addition to the $2.8 million he reported raising on his official filing to the Federal Election Commission for the last quarter, which closed at the end of last month.

His campaign attributes the bump in donations to his debate appearance in Orlando, Fla., last month and his victories subsequently in Florida and other straw polls. Although Cain has never held public office, he is now leading among Republican contenders in some national opinion surveys. The former chief executive of Godfather’s pizza, is marketing a “9-9-9 Plan” -- ending the current tax code and installing a 9% tax on business income, a 9% tax on personal income and a 9% federal sales tax.

“Mr. Cain’s message is spreading and attracting supporters all across the country,” said Mark Block, the chief operating officer for Cain’s campaign. Cain has a campaign fund that is still well below other leading candidates -- but it is growing and represents a significant bump over donations he received in previous reporting periods.

Enthusiastic crowds have greeted Cain as his bus has rolled through Tennessee. While on the road, he boasted of his iconoclastic candidacy, the relatively spare nature of his campaign and its treasury.

“In addition to my itty-bitty million dollars in funds. I have no debt. I’m running this campaign the way I want to run this country,” he said.

In his FEC filing, Cain reported debt of $675,000 but had more than $1.3 million in cash on hand, more than several of his predecessors.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry led the fundraising among would-be GOP presidential candidates, raising $17 million since his candidacy started two months ago. He was followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who ended the quarter reporting over $14 million raised with about $14.7 million cash on hand.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. ended the quarter with $327,000 cash on hand and $890,000 in debt. Huntsman raised $4.51 million, nearly half of which he personally lent his campaign. Texas Rep. Ron Paul announced last week that he had raised $8 million during the quarter. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum reported raising about $700,000 in the last quarter and spending nearly the same amount, and has $190,000 cash on hand.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Michele Bachmann had not released their fundraising totals by midday Saturday. The deadline for filing is at midnight.