Romney eases effort to raise reelection cash

As speculation continues that he won't run for reelection, Governor Mitt Romney has sharply curtailed his fund-raising, while the person eager to replace him, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, has boosted her campaign operation.

Romney started the year with $1.3 million in his campaign account, but the balance had fallen to $612,000 in his most recent report, filed in mid-September. During most months, Romney has spent far more than he has raised, such as April, when he took in $178,000 and spent $360,000.

Were the governor to run for president, a cash balance in his state account would be useless because federal law prohibits him from transferring leftover money to a presidential account.

Healey has added only modestly to her account balance, from $555,000 in January to $602,000 in mid-September. But she has had an active fund-raising schedule and has been spending heavily on traditional campaign activities such as consultant pay and mailings. In May, Healey spent $56,500 on polling.

Romney plans to announce this fall whether he will seek a second term. He has said he is testing the waters for a possible run for the White House.