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By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 35 minutes ago
Democrat Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) raked in $25 million for his presidential bid in the first three months of 2007, placing him on a par with front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and dashing her image as the party's inevitable nominee.
The donations came from an eye-popping 100,000 donors, the campaign said in a statement Wednesday.
The figure was the latest evidence that Obama, a political newcomer who has served just two years in the Senate, has emerged as the most powerful new force in presidential politics this year. It also reinforced his status as a significant threat to Clinton, who'd hoped her own $26 million first quarter fundraising total would begin to squeeze her rivals out of contention.
The campaign reported that the figure included at least $23.5 million that he can spend on the highly competitive primary race. The Clinton campaign has yet to disclose how much they can use for the primary verses money that is designated for the general election.
While Clinton has honed a vast national fundraising network through two Senate campaigns and her husband's eight years as president, Obama launched his bid for the White House with a relatively small donor base concentrated largely in Illinois, his home state. But his early opposition to the Iraq war and voter excitement over his quest to be the first black president quickly fueled a powerful fundraising machine.
Since he formally declared his presidential campaign in February, Obama has been traveling the country with a focus on urban areas where he could build his momentum and bring in new donors. He attracted big-money Hollywood and Wall St. executives along with families who came out to his stops in places like Oklahoma that sometimes are neglected by other candidates.
More than half the donors contributed via the Internet for a total of $6.9 million, the campaign said.
"This overwhelming response, in only a few short weeks, shows the hunger for a different kind of politics in this country and a belief at the grassroots level that Barack Obama can bring out the best in America to solve our problems," said Obama finance chairwoman Penny Pritzker.
Donors are limited by law to contributions of $2,300 for the primary election, but Clinton, Obama and some other candidates also have been raising money for the general election. That allows them to take another $2,300 from each donor, but the money has to be returned if they don't win the nomination.
Clinton's campaign often solicited the $4,600 donations, while Obama's campaign focused on recruiting small dollar donors. In the coming months, he can return to those donors and ask those who haven't maxed out to give more.
Obama was visiting Iowa Wednesday, holding an evening rally at a community college in Mason City.
Among the other Democratic candidates, aides to former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said his $14 million in new contributions included $1 million for the general election.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said he had raised $6 million and had more than $5 million cash on hand.
Aides to Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd said he raised more than $4 million and transferred nearly $5 million from his Senate campaign, for a total of $9 million in receipts and $7.5 million cash on hand. Delaware Sen. Joe Biden lagged behind, with his staff reporting that he had total receipts of nearly $4 million, nearly half of which was transferred from his Senate campaign account.
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By John McCormick and Mike Dorning
Tribune staff reporters
April 4, 2007, 1:28 PM CDT
Sen. Barack Obama raised at least $25 million during the first quarter for his presidential campaign, a total surprisingly close to the $26 million collected by his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Obama actually may have raised more for the primary campaign than the former first lady, but that cannot be definitively known because the Clinton campaign has refused to say how much of its total is designated for the primary election versus the general election.
"This overwhelming response, in only a few short weeks, shows the hunger for a different kind of politics in this country and a belief at the grassroots level that Barack Obama can bring out the best in America to solve our problems," said Penny Pritzker, Obama's finance chair.
On Sunday, Clinton (D-N.Y) reported raising $26 million during the quarter, triggering headlines nationally that she had broken fundraising records. She also plans to add in $10 million from her Senate campaign fund.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who has polled well in Iowa but trailed Clinton and Obama in national polls, reported raising $14 million during January, February and March.
Obama raised $6.9 million—more than a quarter of his total—over the Internet from more than 50,000 online donors, the Illinois Democrat's campaign said from Chicago this morning.
Responding today to the latest Obama numbers, Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle said, "We are thrilled with our historic fundraising success and congratulate Sen. Obama and the entire Democratic field on their fundraising, which demonstrates the overwhelming desire for change in our country."
Overall, Obama received contributions from more than 100,000 individuals, his campaign said. Clinton received donations from about 50,000 people, while Edwards took in money from about 37,000 donors.
Obama's campaign said that at least $23.5 million of its first-quarter collection would be available for the primary campaign, an important distinction because candidates are able to raise money now for both the primary and general elections.
Clinton officials have refused to say how much of the $26 million can be used for her primary campaign, a figure that should be readily available. The Edwards' campaign, meanwhile, has said less than $1 million of his tally is designated for the general election.
People involved in Democratic fundraising have noted that many of Clinton's events required a contribution of $4,600 for access to the senator and other VIPs. That is the maximum amount allowed for an individual to donate by law, with half going for the primary and half for the general.
Obama, on the other hand, has mostly sought donations of up to $2,300, which means the bulk of his take this quarter will be available for the primary campaign. Obama also made his fundraising task more difficult by refusing to accept money from lobbyists and political action committees, unlike Clinton.
By waiting to release totals until today, the Obama campaign assured that the figures would not be lost in a flood of data from other campaigns earlier this week, possibly securing greater media attention.
A relative newcomer to national politics, Obama held dozens of fundraisers across the country, including at least three that brought in more than $1 million each. Some of the events charged as little as $25 or $100.
The ability to raise substantial sums nearly a year before the first votes will be cast is considered one of the essential early challenges for presidential campaigns.
The scramble for money is even greater this year because candidates are being forced to compete in more states, including possible primary battles in California and as many as 23 other states that may hold primaries on Feb. 5, 2008.
The decision by several leading candidates not to accept public funds for their primary campaigns also leaves them free of spending limits that previously had set a ceiling on campaign spending for most candidates. With a crowded open field of candidates in both parties, campaigns also may have to spend more on advertising to penetrate through the din to reach voters with their message.
As they confront that growing battlefield, many political strategists believe the leading candidates from each party will raise at least $100 million by the end of the year.
All of the candidates are tapping into the power of the Internet to boost their fundraising. For Obama, it has allowed him to rapidly transform excitement about his fresh political face into financial contributions.
The campaign Web sites have made it simple for an enthusiastic supporter to make a contribution on impulse, while in the past campaigns largely relied on expensive and relatively slow-moving direct mail campaigns to reach small-dollar donors.
By quietly telling reporters in recent weeks that it expected to raise $8 million to $10 million—and certainly no more than $15 million—Obama's campaign had sought to downplay expectations. The Tribune, meanwhile, reported Monday that he had raised at least $20 million.
Among the top-tier Republican candidates, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has raised almost $21 million this year, giving him an early lead in the so-called "money primary."
The campaign of Sen. John McCain of Arizona, meanwhile, acknowledged disappointment earlier this week when it reported raising $12.5 million, an amount that is only somewhat more than half of what Romney raised.
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who made his inaugural trip to Iowa on Tuesday, reported raising $15 million.
The campaigns are not required to file disclosure reports for the first quarter until April 15. Those reports will give a better sense for where the money has come from and how the candidates are spending their money.
90% of Obama's donations were for $100 or less, none of it was PAC's or lobbyists. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3007098&page=1 This is a big statement for the power of "the people" versus the big money interests behind Clinton
Fri Mar 30, 5:28 PM ET Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York reacts to seeing and old friend during a campaign stop at the National Education Association New Hampshire, in Concord, N.H., Friday, March 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Barack is truly the peoples' candidate. It's so exciting. When I look at him all I see is hope. Now, how do we stop the DLC from giving HRC the nomination because that's where we are heading I think. Damn DLC!! (Although I really commend Nancy Pelosi's secretary of state efforts!!)
Even if he is not going to be elected, I plan on donating money to his campaign.
Obama is the most refreshing presidental candidate since JFK.
He's the only candidate that will be getting my money and I plan on donating the maximum amount because he's gonna need it. What do you think about him selecting Wes Clark as his running mate? I think it's an unbeatable ticket, if he can get the nomination.
He's the only candidate that will be getting my money and I plan on donating the maximum amount because he's gonna need it. What do you think about him selecting Wes Clark as his running mate? I think it's an unbeatable ticket, if he can get the nomination.
Me, too. We have to get him the nomination first and it's not going to be easy against the DLC Machine that is Hillary Clinton (whom I think is a deadpan loser for the presidential race because she is so polarizing even within her own party. Plus, I can't name ONE republican that would vote for her, not one.)
A true grass roots presidential campaign. Wow, that's exciting.
He's the only candidate that will be getting my money and I plan on donating the maximum amount because he's gonna need it. What do you think about him selecting Wes Clark as his running mate? I think it's an unbeatable ticket, if he can get the nomination.
Not sure how I feel about Clark, and I am not sure that is a ticket that can win the Presidency.
Not sure how I feel about Clark, and I am not sure that is a ticket that can win the Presidency.
I like Clark because of his excellent military leadership during the Bosnian/Serbian civil war. We had one non-combat related death during that whole peace-keeping campaign. My neighbors are Bosnian and are here under amnesty for religious persecution (Mom is Serb -- Dad is Muslim). They're take is that, although a lot of people died, if it wasn't for the US it would have been an even worse genocide than it was. All and all that campaign went extremely well under his leadership and I would anticipate he could offer some effective strategies for Iraq's civil war. I think we need to split the ticket in half: Hope/Peace (Barack) and Firm and Steady Military Leadership (Clark).
BTW: I may have asked you before, but what is your dream ticket?
dreamcastrocks--My Hero!!
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