For Republicans running to be the next governor of Georgia, contributions begin at home.

Both U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal and state Sen. Eric Johnson saw a sizable portion of their opening campaign fundraising efforts bolstered by hometown money.

Deal, with $980,290 raised in two months, and Johnson, with $962,773 raised in the same time frame, were the fundraising leaders in the GOP race for governor for the period beginning Jan. 1 and ending June 30.

Deal, with $1.14 million cash on hand, now has the largest war chest among the top four Republican contenders, edging out state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine’s $1.06 million available cash, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed with the State Ethics Commission this week.

Deal topped the $1 million mark with a $250,000 bank loan. Oxendine, meanwhile, recently returned $120,000 in questionable contributions from 10 Birmingham, Ala., political action committees.

While Oxendine began campaigning for governor last year and had already raised more than $800,000 before the most recent reporting period, Deal and Johnson both entered the race in late April.

Both candidates looked to their hometowns to kick off their fundraising efforts and were not let down.

Of the 567 total contributions of more than $100 collected by Deal, almost 300 came from Hall County, for $476,000. Hall County contributions amounted to 48 percent of the total amount raised for the Deal campaign so far. The maximum allowable contribution for the reporting period, $6,100, was given to the Deal campaign by 33 individuals or entities from Hall County.

Johnson collected more than half of his total from his hometown of Savannah — $549,000 from 421 contributions.

"It’s a contemporary manifestation of ... friends and neighbors politics," said Charles Bullock, a professor of political science at the University of Georgia. "Those who know you best support you the most."

Bullock said fundraising rankings can’t predict the finish of a political contest, but "by raising a lot of money, it serves as a performance measure and shows that you are indeed a serious and credible candidate."

"You raise the money starting at home, and then you try to use that to convince other campaign contributors that you’re in it for the long haul."

A million dollars won’t be nearly enough for the long haul.

Bullock estimated that in a crowded GOP campaign for governor that might require a primary runoff before the general election, the top candidates may need as much as $10 million for the entire contest.

Philip Wilheit, Deal’s statewide campaign chairman, said Wednesday that the early fundraising results "accomplished a couple of things."

"You have a strong showing from your local community, and that sends a message that the people who know Nathan Deal best are more than satisfied with what he’s done, think he’s a great candidate and want to see him at the next level," Wilheit said. "And it gives him instant credibility with people who don’t know him."

Johnson’s campaign manager, Ben Fry, said of his strong fundraising efforts in Savannah, "it’s always a good testament when those who know Eric best are supporting his camp so enthusiastically."

While more than half of Johnson’s initial campaign cash came from Savannah, Fry noted that the campaign has raised money from 61 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

"It’s wide-ranging, it’s from all industries, it’s across the state, and we’re continuing to build on it," Fry said.

Deal also led in out-of-state money, with $94,000 from contributors in 16 states.

"Congressman Deal has made contacts throughout the 50 states with his fine work in Washington, and for those people who contributed, it just makes sense to support him in this campaign," Wilheit said.

Oxendine collected $85,000 from 18 states outside Georgia in the last six months, while Johnson took in $43,000, about 5 percent of his total, from 11 outside states.

Oxendine raised $420,000 in the first half of 2009 — less than half of Johnson and Deal’s totals — but Bullock noted that Oxendine had already harvested the "low-hanging fruit" of sure-fire contributions when he launched his campaign last year.

The second half of 2009 could present greater fundraising challenges for all the candidates, as they make their pitches to people who aren’t as familiar with them, Bullock said.

Wilheit said the Deal campaign is focusing on areas from Atlanta south.

"We have friends throughout the state working on his behalf," Wilheit said.

Fry said Johnson’s campaign isn’t paying too much attention to how his opponents are doing.

"Right now, we’re not worried about the other candidates, what we’re concerned with is Eric and his conversation with the people of Georgia."

Democratic candidate for governor David Poythress announced his campaign has raised $460,000, while another Democratic hopeful, Dubose Porter, reported raising $230,000. Former Gov. Roy Barnes, considered a front-runner for the Democratic nomination, has not officially launched his campaign and was not required to file a report.