The first quarter numbers are in and the Republican winner is…. Mitt Romney.

The former governor of Massachusetts, who trails Rudy Giuliani and John McCain by significant amounts in the early popularity polls, is winning the race that many consider to be the true indicator of who’s going to be the Republican presidential nominee. He’s raised the most money.

In the first quarter of this year, Romney raised over $20 million dollars, while Giuliani raised $15 million and McCain trailed with $12.5 million.

National campaigns (or statewide campaigns in a state like California) require money, lots of it and the ability to raise money is a strong indicator of potential success. While Romney has yet to gain traction with the general public, February 5th (the new Super Tuesday) is almost a year away and in politics that is a lifetime. With Giuliani having so many personal conservative red flags (multiple marriages, pro-choice, support for gun control and gay rights) and McCain (who has never earned the trust of conservatives) seeming to tire both literally and figuratively, Romney is going to have to be taken seriously.

Watch for the bandwagon effect, with people jumping off of McCain’s and onto Romney’s.