Sharpton trails most Democratic rivals in fund raising
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Al Sharpton
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- White House hopeful Al Sharpton reported raising $82,656 in campaign funds the first quarter of this year, trailing all but one of his Democratic presidential rivals in the all-important money chase.
Sharpton, a civil rights activist and preacher, filed a fund-raising report with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday morning. He had resisted doing so before the April 15 deadline for the report, saying he was not an official candidate, but was merely exploring a bid.
Last week, the Sharpton campaign announced that he was indeed an official candidate and promised to file a fund-raising report.
Sharpton raised more funds than former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun during the first quarter; she reported raising $72,450. But the other seven announced Democratic contenders bested Sharpton in their fund-raising effort during that same period.
As of March 31, 2003, Sharpton reported having $76,209 in his campaign war chest, more than Braun, who reported $45,005 in cash-on-hand, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich with $50,397.
The leaders in the fund-raising sweepstakes for the first quarter were Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who raised $7.4 million and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who raised slightly more than $7 million.
