Rubio Raises $5 Million in 3rd Quarter

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio shakes hands with supporters in Land O'Lakes, Fla on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg Times, Edward Linsmier)

MIAMI- Florida Senate front-runner Marco Rubio announced today that his campaign has raised over $5 million in the third quarter of 2010.

According to a campaign press release, more than 95,000 donors have given to the Republican's Senate bid to date. Rubio has $5.5 million cash on hand, which is $1 million more since the last fiscal quarter.

"While we still fully expect this final report to show us trailing (Charlie) Crist in cash on hand, we are confident we will have the resources to meet or exceed whatever our opponents are spending on television during October," said Todd Harris, Rubio's senior strategist. "The size and enthusiasm of our donor base gives us a virtually unlimited pool of support we can return to again and again over the final stretch."

Crist, a former Republican now running as an independent, is a formidable fund-raiser, however Rubio's big number mirrors his surge in the latest polls. With less than a month to go, Rubio is leading both Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek in the Real Clear Politics Average of recent surveys of likely Florida voters. He is in front of Crist by nearly 10 points, while Meek trails him by almost 20.

All three candidates will be attending a debate Wednesday night. It will be broadcast in the major media markets of Florida, including Tampa, Orlando and Miami.