Obama Aides Ecstatic Over $52 Million Haul

There is a sense of elation in the Obama campaign as it was announced that their candidate raised $52 million in June. It's a massive haul for the presumptive Democratic nominee -- $3 million short of the historic mark he hit earlier in the cycle but much larger than the $22 million that John McCain brought in this past month.

The majority of donations, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in an email to supporters, were of the small variety, with the average amount being $68.

An aide to the Senator was ecstatic when asked about the June numbers and said of an earlier Wall Street Journal report that Obama had raised "only" around $30 million: the paper is "embarrassed."

Greg Sargent at Talking Points Memo noted that the June haul puts Obama on track to achieve his goal of raising $300 million during the entirety of the general election - a total needed to match the likely loot of McCain and the RNC. And yet, Obama and his allies at the DNC still lag behind their counterparts. The Democrat has $72 million on hand, compared to the roughly $100 million brought in by the GOP.

"We remain at a massive disadvantage to our opponents," Plouffe wrote in an email before asking for additional $25 donations. "As I mentioned in my video message earlier in the week, the McCain Campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.

We can't stop now. It's going to take everything we've got to defeat John McCain and his allies in November."

UPDATE: The DNC follows suit and releases its fundraising figures. They're not quite Obama-esque, but they are fairly impressive for an organization that has been criticized over its lack of cash. Overall, in June, the DNC brought in more than $22 million and has more than $20 million on hand.

This means that, combined, Obama and the DNC have $92 million to spend at this point in time -- $3 million less than GOP.

Comments

[HopeandChange]

He's only in it for the money.

[WLA]

That's a pretty stoopid comment. Especially considering McRich, his opponent.

[papla]

you are an ignorant..­they can't spend the money personally

[SCG]

I hear the Bush library is taking contributions.

If you scratch his scaly tail, he may scratch yours?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

We are not discussing why Johnny Mc dumped his crippled first wife and married the heiress.

[Grunty1]

Why are you bringing up Mc'Cain in an O'bama thread?

[EggsBolinski]

Take away the Mc and the liberals lose their only source of humor.

[WLA]

Take the Mc... please!

[ThunderclapNewman]

Still got nothing but childish insults, huh?

[EggsBolinski]

Still bangin on that piano in the pub?

[lornejl]

Quick , tell us a joke.....y­ou murderers are famous for your sense of humor, I'm starting the timer....t­ick tick..tick­...

[EggsBolinski]

That kind of humor could get you arrested at airports.

[suzyhein]

johnny toot toot

[dentuso]

Our "source of humor" actually spans about 7 1/2 years. The only ones who want this election more than Republicans are the nation's comics.

[philosopherkingtomas]

i will donate another 500 to 1000 to get Barack as our President. McCain/bush is an old joke, not even a real hero but a victim just like his first wife.

[maxdenn]

The GOP is the 'Money Party'. When is the last time the Republican candidate for prez had a real job? He lives off his wife now and rakes in funds from fat cats connected to the GOP.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

And he lives off of Democrats writing his bills in the Senate.

[suzyhein]

Yes, the Clintons, Kerrys, Gores, Edwards, are all practically destitute.

[FirstShirt]

The democrats are the fat cats now. So much for giving to the poor and disenfranchised. How many mouths would that one month donation feed?

[WLA]

Let's get the corrupt GOP out first.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Is that the new Rush talking point?

Why haven't you asked the same question of the McGeezer campaign?

[LABC]

dunno, how much does your meth lab income cover, Robin Hood?

[williamg]

Money is just the start. What is going on behind the scenes is simply breathtaking. By September 1, he plans on having 14,000 volunteers -- IN OHIO ALONE! That means that there will be a volunteer for EVERY precinct in the state. The most important precincts will have multiple canvassers. On top of that, he has 515 training activists and operatives in the state.

Even more, he will be coordinating efforts with local state and Federal Democratic politicians to streamline the get out the vote efforts -- something Kerry didn't do.

[JoanieNC]

Kids are starving, BFD. He lost my vote 2 months ago, and he will lose the election.

[BradPittsburgh]

Yes he will.

[Grunty1]

Kids are starving, so you plan to vote for the one who will send them to war in Iran?

[williamg]

Your rationale is starving. Still throwing a pity party, huh?

[ThunderclapNewman]

You were never going to vote for him---but you do spew the new talking point with just as much stupidity as the rest of the tro//s.

[WLA]

Because you are the one person who matters.

[JerryTheAngel]

The people have finally woken up. We are going to take our country back from racists, homophobics, greedy corporate crooks and warmongers. These Times, they are a changin!

[Beninn]

I love how williamg phrases this, like O, that "he PLANS on having", as if he owns volunteers and moves them around like a kid moves pieces on a game board.

Or like O's refining his promise to "end the war in Iraq" by saying "I INTEND to start removing combat troops from Iraq, as conditions on the ground allow, (more fine print on which the pledge becomes meaningless)".

People will volunteer and vote for the candidate who they are sure will live up to the deal. O has been breaking the deals with the people who brung him to the dance. I wouldn't count on their efforts to help him if they don't feel the love going both ways.

[williamg]

Let's get some facts together. He ALREADY HAS 10,000 volunteers in the state, and he PLANS ON HAVING 14,000 by Sept 1.

That isn't very tough to follow, even for you, right?

[ThunderclapNewman]

More lies brought on by your bitterness and innate lack of intelligence.

[Heidfeld]

Ehh, ummm, this is for the month of June. I know it seems like years ago, but don't forget that when the month of June started, there were still primaries going on. Obama was getting his but kicked in Puerto Rico, etc. Then you had him being called the presumptive nominee a week later.

It wasn't until the end of the June and start of July that Obama started to show who he really was, and alienate most of his base. Wait till the July numbers come out... he may just come back in favor of public campaign financing.

[Necron99]

You know the old saying, "As goes Puerto Rico, so goes the nation."

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

As a person born and raised in Puerto Rico I can say you could not be more correct. Puerto Rico is inconsequential in November since residents of the island are not allowed to vote in the general election. Besides, most mainlanders do not even know Puerto Rican are US Citizens anyway.

[ThunderclapNewman]

You really have no idea what you're talking about, and it shows.

[Purobi]

OK, your comment convinced me to send $2300 all at once. I am serious.

[gladys46]

Bullcorn!

[lornejl]

I have a very bad feeling that too many think that if O wins there will be marshmallow skies and tangerine dreams. There is filthy corporate money lining the pockets of everyone in D.C. If O wins it is only a tiny step, the huge money might even make him irrelevant. We have not even yet begun to fight.

[SweetSydney]

Don't fret lorne, O's not going to win.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Thanks for helping guarantee his victory, Betty Jo.

Your Magic-8-Ball never works.

Mavs in 6!

[dentuso]

Oh THERE you are. You seemed to hide, dodging a question several times now.

You'd started talking about "winning the war".

What, exactly, defines winning the war?

Please explain it to all of us.

[lornejl]

" Submit to Fascism "

Thanks hummer, did you feel all peaceful inside after you took fascism as your lord and savior ?

[EggsBolinski]

You must have been reading Chomsky who expects a big disappoint afterwards from the left if Obama wins.

[IntelligentDesign]

A journey of a million miles starts but with a tiny step.

[lornejl]

No doubt.

[Purobi]

YES.

[truthskr]

So what's your point? I guess I shouldn't even bother engaging in politics or voting then.

As voters, all we can be is pragmatic given the options available, and most Obama supporters such as myself hold no illusions that Obama is going to save us. We have to save ourselves, and that means voting for candidates who reflect our values and ideals, regardless of whether those ideals are, in actuality, attainable. That means Obama has my guaranteed vote. With all of the people arguing for other candidates who have more supposed experience than Obama, you'd think they'd seen that experience and years spent in DC as direct complicity with a broken system.

There's corporate money in everyone's pockets, so it then becomes a matter of exactly how deep into the corporations' pockets a candidate has fallen. In my opinion, Obama is by far the least sullied of what were and are currently our real options.

[knixphan]

O will win, with our help.

O will stay on course, with our prodding.

American democracy was designed for this.

If we stay apathetic, corporate fatcats will play the role of citizens.

[lornejl]

It's a never ending battle, they will never give up, they have bank, endless bank, O is a nice start, but the bloody battlefields are yet to come.

[JerryTheAngel]

I'm holding back until I know who he picks as his running mate. If it's Hillary, Edwards, or Biden, I'll give the maximum.

[oneeyedodin]

Obama will need every dollar to overcome the below average intelligence base of the Repugnant Party. Half of your under educated citizens are too lazy, too stupid or both to get involved in elections, a right which many other Americans died to protect. Over 40% of the nicompoops left support John Bushlite. Most of your population can be labelled "Special Needs".
No other country in the world has been so favoured with resources and opportunity (and fortuitous location) as the US and managed to maintain a population so riddled with stupidity,. You mugs have allowed yourselves to be ruled (yes ruled) by the worst people amongst you. War criminals, murderers, liars, thieves and traitors. It is amusing how many ignoramuses ( Syd the Slob included) count Clinton's lie about Monica as pure evil while ignoring Bush's lies about Iraq. Slick Willie wasted some sperm while Bush has wasted thousands of human lives. It is also a salient fact that many Americans consider abortion an unforgiveable sin while at the same time approving of America's murder of thousand of foreigners in Iraq, Afganistan and innumerable countries in the past.

Yes Obama will need every dollar he can get to overcome the inertia of the ethos of American conceit, ignorance and downright stupidity.

[FirstShirt]

Gobs of money. Rock star status. Huge coliseums for speaking. And yet...

Old John is still in a dead heat. Go figure.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Are you sure we aren't a Monarchy or Dictatorship?

Look on the good side McBush would not be in the top ten.

THE WORLD'S 10 OLDEST LEADERS

ROBERT MUGABE, 84, president of Zimbabwe, 28 years in power

KING ABDULLAH , 84, king of Saudi Arabia, 12 years in power

GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA, 83, prime minister of Nepal, two current years in power

ABDOULAYE WADE, 81, president of Senegal, eight years in power

HOSNI MUBARAK, 79, president of Egypt, 26 years in power

SHEIKH SABAH AL AHMAD AL SABAH, 78, emir of Kuwait, five years in power

RAUL CASTRO, 76, president of Cuba, two years in power, including unofficially

MWAI KIBAKI, 76, president of Kenya, five years in power

MANMOHAN SINGH, 75, prime minister of India, four years in power

THAN SHWE, 75, chair of Burma's military junta, 16 years in power

Source: Reproduced with permission from Foreign Policy, www.foreignpolicy.com. Copyright 2008, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The moral of the story if you want to turn America into a third world country vote for McBush.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

India is a republic not a monarchy or dictatorship. The term of a Prime Minister lasts for 4 years. Just like the presidential term. Unlike the system here, there is no limit as to how many times a sitting prime minister can run for the same office.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

So?

[Purobi]

My mother could never vote in India. By the time she was ready to go vote by about 9 AM after finishing some of the house work, someone else ALWAYS had voted for her. India is the biggest hypocrisy in the world. However, your point is well taken. India is heaven compared to the other countries mentioned in the post above.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Like Boosh, McBush is a complete transparent fraud who built his career on his father's influence. McBush did not get into flight school based on his horrible performance in the Naval Academy, but because of his Admiral father's influence. Without his admission to flight school and subsequent capture by the Vietcong we would not even hear about McBush. McBush has built his political credentials on surviving and self promotion in the senate not succeeding. His whole Congressional career has been made by taking credit for other people's work. That's why he crossed the aisle so many times because Republicans knew he would not do the work. Democrats were glad to have him cosponsor bills for obvious reasons, even though McBush would never craft the vast majority of the legislation. McBush's whole career in Congress is based on his sanctimonious grandstanding. That's why he is so hated in his own party. McBush will simply do anything to be Commander-in-Chief because he was told when he was in the Navy and worse by his father that he did not have what it took to make Admiral, so he wants to command Admirals and Generals to prove his everyone wrong.

0bama has some issues too because of growing up without a father, but these are not fatal personality flaws and 0bama's history of over achievement shows he has a self realization about his limitations and succeeds despite of them.

[Superbus]

He pretty much grew up without a mother too. But I doubt he has issues because to his credit, Obama takes personal responsibility seriously, something most liberals seem to have trouble with.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Not this one. Since you agree with 0bama vote for him.

[Sabreen60]

Your analysis of Mc Boosh is parallel to Booosh. He was a C student who had a father that was at least intelligent. Another poster provided a link which showed Booosh bragging about his "C" credentials, saying that he is prez, compared to the person who was just his adviser but had a Ph.D. What a wonderful message that is to young people - don't work hard. Why? Because you can still become prez. as a "C" student and run the country into the toilet.

[FirstShirt]

Spin it anyway you want. He went in harms way when he could have used his influence to avoid it. How many years did Obama serve?

[maxdenn]

I'll be voting for the Senator from Illinois for president. And suggest the so called Democratic Congressional leadership be replaced by better Democrats. Should my party win the White House.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I'm with you there, also scrape the DLC.

[ThunderclapNewman]

The DLC is a private organization, and has every right to exist as such.

That being said, the DLC has no real influence in the party now that O has taken control.

That's one of the reasons some of the executive functions have moved to Chicago.

[Purobi]

Me three :)

[flymic]

I am donating another $25 for O. Anybody want to match me: www.barackobama.com

[Beninn]

What are you getting for that $25? What do you think O owes his small donors?

[SweetSydney]

He'll owe them an apology in November.

[ThunderclapNewman]

He owes everyone a good, honest government which upholds and defends the US Constitution.

[flymic]

For starters, the satisfaction of knowing that Bush will not have a THIRD TERM!

[williamg]

McCain is only up by 3 points in latest Rasmussen North Carolina poll. This if bad news for the old fella.