What the Republican front-runner and his aides were doing was typical candidate behavior this week - with the latest campaign-finance filing deadline looming.
At the end of every quarter, candidates have to make financial reports to the Federal Election Commission. Along with the polls, these reports are the most tangible indicators of political strength at this stage.
So a dollar raised by the Sept. 30 deadline has more value, in terms of perception, than one raised Oct. 15. Hence the push.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who took a break from the fund-raising frenzy to join his fellow Democratic candidates in a debate Wednesday night in New Hampshire, was back in the act yesterday, making a quick stop in Philadelphia for a luncheon with donors at a Center City hotel.
"It's very crazy," Richardson said in an interview. "This is a very tough quarter for all of us, not just for me.
"You've tapped out some of your main donors. With family vacations in July and August, you have to do all the work in September. And for candidates like me who don't have fund-raising machines, I personally have to go to all the events."
In recent days, the candidates' schedules have been heavy with events like these:
After a week of two-a-day fund-raisers in California, Republican Mitt Romney is to be in Salt Lake City today for one of the 40 or so "Rallies for Romney" scheduled across the country this week.
No, a Rally for Romney is not a rally in the traditional sense. Rather, it's a gathering of volunteers making dozens upon dozens of fund-raising phone calls.
John McCain has been seeking money in Texas, New York, Ohio and New Hampshire. Fred Thompson is in the midst of a five-city fund-raising tour through his native Tennessee.
Giuliani held a fund-raiser last week in London and one this week, via video-conferencing, with Americans living in Kazakhstan.
