(Reuters) - Three Super PACs supporting U.S. Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry have raised nearly $17 million, CNN reported on Friday, citing a senior adviser for the groups.
Two pro-Perry groups - Opportunity and Freedom PAC and Opportunity and Freedom PAC I - raised $12.8 million in the first half of the year, CNN said.
A third Super PAC, which was created on Thursday, collected a $4 million check from a single donor, bringing the tally for the three groups to $16.8 million as of July 10, CNN said, citing Austin Barbour, a senior adviser to all three affiliated groups.
The total puts Perry, a former Texas governor, far behind Jeb Bush, the fund-raising leader in the Republican presidential field, whose Super PAC reported amassing more than $103 million as of June 30.