GOP hopeful Ted Cruz raised $12.2 million in the third quarter of his campaign pushing him higher in the ranks of Republican presidential candidates.

Cruz raised more than $26 million so far this year, more than Sen. Marco Rubio who is beating Cruz in the GOP polls.

These figures come at a time when Cruz said he will win Donald Trump's voters. Donald Trump is self-funding his campaign and has been the top candidate for the GOP presidential ticket, according to early polls.

"Eventually, you could beat him, based on your principles," Cruz told WABC Radio's Rita Cosby on Thursday. "I think that's right. I think that, in time, I don't believe Donald is going to be the nominee and I think, in time, the lion's share of his supporters end up with us."

He says Trump has encouraged voters to use a certain filter when evaluating candidates and that set of criteria directly favors Cruz.

"There's a big difference between my record and that of everyone else if you ask, who has stood up to Washington?" Cruz said. "I think his involvement has been tremendously helpful to my campaign, because it's framed the central question of this primary."

The Texas politician went as far as inviting Trump to a rare two-candidate rally against the Iran deal because Trump would be better at getting the media to cover it. Cruz also joked about asking Trump to donate money to his campaign since he is so rich.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is also leading the GOP candidates and is Trump's biggest competition right now. So far, he has raised $20 million for his campaign.

Other GOP contenders with extensive political records have been struggling to raise money. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul raised just $2.5 million and is expected to drop out of the 2016 presidential race at any moment.

Related