by John McCormick and Mike Dorning
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton raised $27 million during the most recent fundraising quarter, out-raising rival Barack Obama and demonstrating surging momentum among Democratic donors.
For the first time this year, Clinton was more successful in recruiting new donors to her campaign than Obama, attracting 100,000 new donors during the last three months versus 93,000 new donors for the Obama campaign.
The number of donors is a gauge of grass-roots enthusiasm for a candidate. And the Obama campaign has regularly sought to highlight the statistic as it argues that national polling data showing a lead for Clinton does not capture an "enthusiasm gap" among the candidates.
Clinton's strong fundraising performance during the summer months, when well-heeled donors and volunteer fundraisers often retreat to summer homes and are more difficult to reach, suggests mounting enthusiasm among her core supporters as she maintains her lead in the national polls.
The July-through-September quarter also was the first time that Clinton led Obama in money raised for use in the primary, bringing in $22 million for the primary versus $19 million for Obama.
In the first half of the year, Clinton relied more than Obama on wealthy donors who gave more than the $2,300 contribution limit for presidential primaries. Donors are permitted to give another $2,300 for use in the general election but the money must be kept separate and can not be used during the primary campaign.
While firm comparisons must await detailed financial disclosures due on Oct. 15, the third-quarter figures for new donors and for primary funds raised suggest the Clinton campaign this summer might have bested Obama in attracting smaller-dollar donors for the first time.
Still, the two leading Democrats are poised to head into the presidential primaries at rough financial parity. Both candidates are on track to fund staggerlingly expensive $100 million primary campaigns.
Figures for other candidates were reported in Tuesday's Tribune.
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Comments
I have to wonder where that money came from.
Of all the scandals the Clinton administration went through the least phony was the fundraising scandal.
Posted by: nisleib | October 2, 2007 9:49 AM
Well we all know from reading the comments here that how much money candidates raise is the barometer of who is the best.
Posted by: Fancy Smart Guy | October 2, 2007 9:50 AM
What if, say, each of 5 candidates are raising an average of $5 million per quarter. That's a lot of money getting sucked out of our communities. $100million that needs to be spent on our own needs instead of more political advertising. It's only gonna get more costly as we approach the 2008 election.
I see it as wasted money. It's money that could go to national needs rather than to political egos.
Posted by: Giraffe | October 2, 2007 10:07 AM
$50 came from me. Another 100,000 gave similar donations. Now you know.
Posted by: Gerald Miller | October 2, 2007 10:16 AM
When in July Obama reported outraising Hillary in the 2nd quarter, the Obama supporters were celebrating the totals as proving Obama's vast, unmatched, unbeatable support. See http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/07/obama_reports_xx_million_in_se.html
for the comments they'd now like everybody to forget.
Posted by: Bruce | October 2, 2007 10:30 AM
It's always fun to compare the fundraising and things of that nature before the election. It reminds me of when people cheer and go wild for their team before the end of the game, in which the team they cheered for actually loses in the end. Anyhow, I'm for the Obama campaign, that's my team. But you won't hear me cheering untill the end...GO OBAMA!!....ok...I just had to get that one out....
Posted by: Sam Oden - Chicago | October 2, 2007 11:22 AM
The Clinton machine is at work and I'm sure that are lots Hsu's in there, as well as with all candidates. That machine is so well oiled that it frightens me. As a life long Democrat who cannot vote for Ms. Clinton, I find it amazing that more Democrats aren't backing a more acceptable candidate.
Posted by: PoliticalJunkie | October 2, 2007 11:37 AM
PEOPLE REALIZE NOW THAT CLINTON IS UNBEATABLE- PLUS GOOD RECORD OVER ALL- ITS THE CLNTON WHO KNWOS HOW TO RULE THIS COUNTRY LOTS OF EXPREIENCE ALSO WITH TH EHLP OF BILL CLINTON .
GOOD AMERICA IN THE 90S -GOOD AMERICA AGAIN HOPEFULLY IN 2009EH BE
Posted by: laura | October 2, 2007 11:50 AM
The REAL headline is: “BARACK OBAMA CONTINUES TO OUTPACE HILLARY CLINTON IN PRIMARY DOLLARS THROUGH THE 3RD QUARTER, DESPITE HILLARY CLINTON’S $10 MILLION TRANSFER FROM HER LAST SENATE CAMPAIGN.
Obama Primary Dollars: $75 Million
Clinton Primary Dollars: $62 Million
GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: S Scott | October 2, 2007 12:17 PM
The REAL headline is: “BARACK OBAMA CONTINUES TO OUTPACE HILLARY CLINTON IN PRIMARY DOLLARS THROUGH THE 3RD QUARTER, DESPITE HILLARY CLINTON’S $10 MILLION TRANSFER FROM HER LAST SENATE CAMPAIGN.
Obama Primary Dollars: $75 Million
Clinton Primary Dollars: $62 Million
GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: S Scott | October 2, 2007 12:43 PM
hillary has had more time to perfect the fine are of criminality and how to steal money under the guise of wanting to represent you as president. hillary is only concerned about hillary and her wealth and power. Oh, she may also want to distance herself from the lady that lost to the cigar. Nothing would emasculate bill more than for hillary to watch him holding White House socials on the lawn as the first, frist man (?).
I have said before, hillary is the worst choice. She does not care about the average person, beyond suckering that average person into voting for her. So, if you decide to vote for her, stock up on K-Y jelly, you'll need it if she is elected.
Posted by: Rob S | October 2, 2007 12:44 PM
The REAL headline is: “BARACK OBAMA CONTINUES TO OUTPACE HILLARY CLINTON IN PRIMARY DOLLARS THROUGH THE 3RD QUARTER, DESPITE HILLARY CLINTON’S $10 MILLION TRANSFER FROM HER LAST SENATE CAMPAIGN.
Obama Primary Dollars: $75 Million
Clinton Primary Dollars: $62 Million
GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: S Scott | October 2, 2007 2:30 PM
I like Hillary and I would like to party with Bill, but all Clinton, Bush, and Kennedy families should be banned from congress and the presidency. How can we be the shining example of democracy when so few have dominated our destiny for so long? We need to press the reset button on our democracy before it's too late.
Posted by: Vote Wookie | October 2, 2007 11:34 PM
We need to stop ignoring the constitution and get ron paul elected
Posted by: RonPaulfor2008 | October 3, 2007 9:38 PM