Santorum funds more than double since Iowa

WASHINGTON -- Rick Santorum, who has emerged as the chief rival to Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential campaign, more than doubled his fundraising after winning the Iowa caucuses last month.

Romney still raised more money than all of his challengers and continued to receive the most financial support from Wall Street.

Meanwhile, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, winner of the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21, ended the January filing period with almost as many debts as he has cash in the bank.

A former senator from Pennsylvania, Santorum raised $4.5 million in January after collecting $2.2 million in the entire last year, Federal Election Commission financial disclosure reports posted Monday show. He took in 57 percent of his money last month in donations of $200 or less, according to FEC records. Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3 and the Feb. 7 contests in Missouri, Colorado and Minnesota, reported having $1.5 million in the bank at the start of February, FEC records show.

Romney brought in more than $6.5 million last month, according to his disclosure report. Romney, who has won four primary contests, including Florida, has raised a total of $63.7 million and had a campaign bank account balance of $7.7 million on Jan. 31.

Unlike previous elections, none of the Republican candidates have publicly identified those who are raising money for their campaigns, except the registered lobbyists they are required by law to report to the FEC.

Romney was the only candidate to disclose any so-called bundlers last month, saying three registered lobbyists who have been raising money for his campaign brought an additional $163,645. Wayne Berman, whose clients include Blackstone Group, based in New York, and San Francisco-based Visa Inc., raised $79,050 of that total.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas reported taking in $4.5 million in January, with 47 percent in amounts of $200 or less, and entering February with $1.6 million in the bank. Paul has raised $31 million through Jan. 31, second only to Romney. The campaign said on its website that it has also raised more than $1.9 million so far this month.

Gingrich's South Carolina victory helped generate $5.6 million in donations last month. Through Jan. 31, he raised a total of $18.3 million for his campaign. He reported $1.8 million in the bank at the end of January, with $1.7 million in debts, including $115,503 for web ads and $7,500 to his daughter Jackie Cushman's consulting firm.