Edwards fundraising lags behind Clinton, Obama in second quarter

RALEIGH (AP) -- John Edwards is far ahead of the fundraising numbers he posted during his first run for the White House.

But the former North Carolina senator is having trouble keeping up with the breakneck pace set by his rivals this time around.

The Edwards campaign raised more than $14 million in this year's first quarter and is on pace to pocket only about $9 million by midnight Saturday for the second quarter.

This quarter's cash is only one-third of what his top competitors will raise as the 2008 money race continues to shatter records.

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign says she'll raise roughly $27 million. And political insiders say Illinois Senator Barack Obama is expected to out-raise Clinton.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)