WASHINGTON - January 27 - John Kerry may be leading in the polls for today’s New Hampshire presidential primary, but when it comes to campaign contributions within the Granite State, Howard Dean has an edge over the senator.

Howard Dean raised nearly $185,000 from individuals in New Hampshire—almost double that of any other presidential candidate—in the first nine months of 2003. Kerry, who surprised fellow Democratic contenders by winning the Iowa caucuses last week, garnered more than $94,000 from his New Hampshire supporters. Taking in far less money were John Edwards ($28,000) and Joe Lieberman ($22,500). Dennis Kucinich raised a little more than $8,200 from state residents, and Wesley Clark, who only began fund-raising a few weeks before the third-quarter contribution reports were due, raised just $6,800.

Richard Gephardt, who withdrew as a candidate last Tuesday after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses, raised close to $25,000 from New Hampshire supporters in the first nine months of 2003.

Though he faces no opponent for the Republican nomination, President Bush raised $244,000—or 32 percent more than Dean—from individuals in the state through Sept. 30.

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