Romney Raised $111.8 Million in First Half of October

Debate performance may have contributed to haul

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his allies raised $111.8 million October 1-17, his campaign said on Thursday, a high-profile period that included two of the three televised presidential debates.

Romney's strong performance in the first debate with President Barack Obama on October 3 notably ticked up donations, the campaign said. The two candidates have been locked in a dead-heat race since then.

As of the end of October 17 - just weeks before the November 6 election - Romney, the Republican National Committee and state parties had $169 million left in cash on hand, they said.