Quick, use the letters M-O-N-E-Y in a name

The answer: Montgomery, of course – it’s a campaign ATM for presidential candidates

Willie Sutton, the famous bank robber, was supposedly asked why he robbed banks. That’s where the money is, he replied.

Montgomery County residents have ponied up more than $2 million for presidential candidates so far this year. Of all the campaign contributions coming out of Maryland, Montgomery County represents about 70 percent, according to election records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

‘‘Montgomery County is one of the five most popular destinations for Democratic campaigns to go trolling for dollars,” said Steve Jost, a former finance director for the Maryland Democratic Party.

And inside the county, one ZIP code — 20854 — stands out.

Potomac has provided more than $500,000 to the field of candidates, according to the data.

Across the country, it’s not uncommon to see campaign cash concentrated geographically, said Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

‘‘Look at where political contributions come from. They come from individuals with a great deal of disposable income. Who can afford to throw a thousand dollars to a politician?” Sabato said.

The Internet is helping to change that, but not much.

‘‘The truth is, the vast majority comes from a relatively small number of individuals,” Sabato said.

And besides money, Montgomery County offers ease of travel. A presidential candidate who wants to take in some politicking after a long day in the Senate can slip out of the Capitol and take in a house party.

That certainly explains why New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack H. Obama lead Democratic candidates in the Montgomery money chase.

‘‘It’s really handy for Clinton and Obama to scoot over for an easy event,” Jost said. Clinton has pulled in $638,350 from Montgomery County, about 77 percent of her Maryland total. Obama has raised $507,592 from Montgomery, or about 72 percent of his Maryland total.

It might also explain why Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd comes in third. Dodd has raised $156,000, or nearly 80 percent of his Free State total.

‘‘I bet Dodd is better known in Montgomery County than in any other area outside of Connecticut,” said Jost, who is legislative director for Rep. C.A. ‘‘Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-Dist. 2) of Cockeysville.

Those who have left Washington, such as former North Carolina senator John Edwards and former energy secretary Bill Richardson of New Mexico, have to "replow that ground" in Montgomery County, Jost said.

Maryland and Montgomery also factor into campaign planning because of who lives there, said Terry L. Lierman, whose last day as Maryland Democratic Party chairman was Thursday.

‘‘A lot of opinion leaders live in Maryland and Montgomery County, and they [the candidates] want to be with them,” Lierman said.

On the Republican side, Maryland is far from hostile territory.

‘‘Over the years, Republicans have raised a lot of money in Maryland, even though we have the two to one registration against us,” said Richard E. Hug, former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.’s fundraiser and a fundraiser for former New York City mayor and presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani.

Last week, Hug organized a Giuliani event that will collect more than $200,000. In Montgomery County, Giuiliani has collected $176,400, which represents nearly 84 percent of the money raised statewide through March 31.

Former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney has raised $291,050 in Montgomery County, which represents nearly 81 percent of his Maryland money.

‘‘Montgomery County is a great venue to raise money and do political fundraising. It’s obviously the more affluent county is going to have the people with the wherewithal to actually contribute,” said Louis M. Pope, a former Maryland Republican Party chairman and the state’s national GOP committeeman. Pope is raising money for the Romney campaign.

And as blue as Montgomery County is, the county is a bastion of Republicanism. With 124,883 registered Republicans in the county, only Baltimore County has more, by fewer than 2,000.

‘‘They’re politically savvy, they’re engaged and they’re employed in D.C. They may view this as their best opportunity to participate in what is arguably a third-tier state,” said Donald E. Murphy, a former state delegate who is working on Republican Sen. John McCain’s campaign.