The Houston Chronicle reports that Rudy Giuliani has been raking in the cash in Texas, thanks in part to his relationship with the Houston law firm formerly known as Bracewell & Patterson, now Bracewell & Giuliani.

According to the latest filings, Hizzoner's exploratory committee has raised $124,050 in the Lone Star state compared to only $14,150 for McCain. (Overall McCain leads Giuliani in fund raising thus far, , $1.7 million to $1.4 million, respectively).

Giuliani was on hand last night in Houston for another big fund raiser where - as with every place he goes these days, particularly in the South - there were differences of opinion about whether he can get through the Republican primary:

Cathie Adams, director of the Texas Eagle Forum, a conservative group based in Dallas, said Giuliani is a "nonstarter" in Texas largely because of his support of gun control, gay rights and abortion rights. "He doesn't hold Texas views and Texas standards. We are a conservative state," she said. [snip]

Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace, who calls himself "a strong hard right wing when it comes to social issues" and who was a host of the Giuliani event in Houston, said many conservatives will back the former New York mayor for pragmatic reasons. He noted that polls show that Giuliani has wide support and could beat leading Democratic contender, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I think Giuliani's support among conservatives (even some hard core social conservatives in the South) is much wider and stronger than many people believe. Whether that support holds when all of the nasty attacks and messy details of his personal life start getting thrown around in a serious way is another matter. I continue to think Giuliani has a shot, though he is going to have a "hell of a battle."