Fiorina raises $6.8 million in third quarter

by Jonathan Swan - 10/13/15 4:33 PM ET

Businesswoman Carly Fiorina has proven she can run a viable presidential campaign, raising more money than Republican favorite Marco Rubio in the recent financial quarter.

Fiorina’s deputy campaign manager Sarah Isgur Flores tweeted on Tuesday afternoon:

B/t July 1st & Sept 30th, we raised $6.8 million; spent $2.2 million; & have $5.5 million cash on hand. Thank you @CarlyFiorina supporters!

— Sarah Isgur Flores (@whignewtons) October 13, 2015

Fiorina’s total places her clearly on the top rung of Republican candidates.

{mosads}Of the GOP contenders who have reported spending so far, the former Hewlett Packard CEO beats Rubio, who raised $6 million, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who raised $2.5 million. The Rubio campaign, however, has $11 million cash on hand, about double the money available to the Fiorina camp. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has not yet reported his quarter three fundraising total.

Fiorina — who scored near zero in national polling until her strong debate performances vaulted her near the lead in recent polls — now only trails Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, among candidates who have reported their quarter three totals.

The Cruz campaign says it raised $12.2 million between Jul. 1 and Sep. 30, and the Carson team says it raised $20 million in the same period, but neither said how much they have spent.

Fiorina more than tripled her fundraising total from the previous quarter, in which she raised $1.7 million and spent $714,000.

This story was updated at 5:33 p.m.

Tags Carly Fiorina Marco Rubio Rand Paul Ted Cruz