Perry to donors: I'm electable

Perry’s argument, insiders say, is that his conservative bona fides will inspire voters in the party’s base while allowing him to court centrists. “Nobody is going to outflank me on the right,” Perry said at a recent gathering, according to one participant, who like many others discussed details of private events on the condition of anonymity.

Even some Perry supporters acknowledge that potential donors remain wary. “There are definitely people who want to see more fleshing out of the governor’s statements,” said Bill Diamond, a veteran party donor who was scheduled to hold a fundraiser for Perry on Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Fla…

Major donors said in interviews that Perry expects to easily raise $10 million to $15 million by the end of this month, with a long-term goal of at least $45 million by the end of the first major primaries in March.

If he succeeds, Perry should be competitive with Romney, though it remains unclear how close, if he won the nomination, he could get to Obama’s fundraising total. The president reported raising more than $86 million for his campaign and the Democratic National Committee through June, putting him far ahead of the Republican field.