New to the McCain fold are Howard Leach of San Francisco, a former Bush ambassador to France, and Sam Fox of St. Louis, Bush's ambassador to Belgium. Both former Bush fundraisers had backed Romney.
Some McCain critics say the Arizona senator has not yet solidified the GOP base.
Although James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, is unenthusiastic about McCain, Edward Atsinger III, a Bush fundraiser, intends to back him. He is chairman of Salem Communications, the nation's largest Christian radio network, and one that broadcasts Dobson's shows.
"I will expend a considerable amount of energy trying to raise money for him," Atsinger said. "We're certainly prepared to host events."
Corrado and other experts say that McCain's April and May fundraising will help determine whether he'll have sufficient resources. If he raises $20 million a month through the summer, his backers say, he will be in a good position.
McCain would be in deeper trouble if the Democratic primaries were over. As it is, Obama and Clinton are burning through millions of dollars as they duke it out.
"As long as the Democratic contest continues, he doesn't need to raise $40 million a month," said Michael E. Toner, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission and a McCain advisor.
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dan.morain@latimes.com
Times researcher Maloy Moore contributed to this report.
