Even though Rick Perry's lost early national polling momentum, he's still doing well in the fundraising department. Conservative sites Hot Air and The Drudge Report are independently reporting that the Texas governor has raised over $17 million throughout the third quarter. Which--as Mitt Romney's people prepared expectations for--may top the GOP field. From Drudge:

EXCLUSIVE: Republican White House hopeful Rick Perry raised over $17 million in 49 days, DRUDGE has learned. $347,000 per day; 20,000 unique donors from all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam. With more than half of donors living outside of Texas... Developing...

Last week, The Boston Globe estimated Mitt Romney's haul as between "$11 million and $13 million for the latest fund-raising quarter."

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Erik Hayden