US: In Florida yesterday US President George Bush picked up another $2.5 million for his re-election campaign, topping the record $106 million he raised for the primaries in 2000, reports Conor O'Clery.
The Bush campaign plans to raise at least $170 million for a primary season in which Mr Bush is unopposed. Because of its large number of electoral college votes, which helped decide the 2000 presidential election, Florida is again expected to be a critical state for Mr Bush in next year's vote, which polls show could be a tight race.
The President and Democratic challengers led by former Vermont Governor Howard Dean yesterday formally registered for the first primary in New Hampshire on January 27th.