Mitt Romney top GOP fundraiser on LI

WASHINGTON -- In the Republican presidential sweepstakes, Mitt Romney has a solid early lead in New York fundraising over his nearest rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, an analysis of Federal Election Commission data found.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor in his second presidential bid, has raised $3.4 million from individuals in New York, including $422,255 from Long Island, the analysis of campaign donations through Sept. 30 of this year showed.

Perry, who didn't enter the race until mid-August, collected $449,000 in New York, including $61,950 on the Island.

"Governor Romney has a strong network of support from his 2007 run for president, and he has continued to build on that this year," said Romney spokesman Ryan Williams.

"Romney has been doing this for five years, so you would expect he would be better organized," said Dan Isaacs, the Manhattan Republican Party chairman and a Perry supporter. "But we'll catch up."

The rest of the Republican field trailed far behind. Texas Rep. Ron Paul collected $42,721 in mostly smaller donations on Long Island. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised $22,800 on the Island before he dropped out of the race.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama raised $5.8 million for his presidential campaign fund in New York, $424,558 of that on Long Island.

But those amounts are just in itemized contributions of $200 or more and probably understate his take from New York. Obama's Oct. 15 FEC filing shows 60 percent of his donations are under $200 and not listed by donor name and city.

Also, as the Democrats' sole candidate, Obama is raising money for a joint fundraising committee, the Obama Victory Fund 2012, with the Democratic National Committee, which supports his re-election bid.

Obama has attended a dozen DNC fundraisers in five visits to New York City this year. The Obama Victory Fund 2012 has raised $10.7 million in New York.

Last week Romney had two New York City fundraisers, one of them sponsored by billionaire businessman Ken Langone of Sands Point.

Joseph Mondello, chairman of the Nassau County Republican Committee, said Romney has the only GOP presidential organization raising funds on Long Island. "No one else is doing anything," he said.

Locally, Romney did well in Locust Valley, where a fundraiser was held, and in Lawrence and Mill Neck.

"He has very strong support" on Long Island, said Rick Lazio, a former Long Island congressman and a Romney fundraiser.