June Campaign Finance Numbers: Obama Raises $52 Million

The AP reports that Barack Obama reversed a two-month downward trend by raising more and spending less. He took in $52 million in June, more than twice the nearly $21.5 million raised by John McCain. Obama had $72 million cash on hand to McCain's $27 million.

The Politico points out that Obama raised $25 million on the last day of June alone:

His one-day haul represents nearly half of his monthly total and more than Republican rival John McCain generated for the entire month. During the month, McCain did not have a single day in which he raised a million dollars.

But, the Politico explains, McCain isn't Obama's real competition:

It also is the minimum the Illinois senator will need to generate each month between now and November if he is to match the more than $200 million budget the Republicans have set for boosting McCain's campaign.

The true competitor to Obama will be the Republican National Committee, rather than McCain, who has agreed to accept about $84 million in public financing for his general election campaign.

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, loaned herself another $1 million after leaving the race. The Washington Post details:

Clinton raised just $2.7 million in June and finished the month with $25.2 million in campaign debt, most of that, $13.175 million, owed to Clinton herself, according to her report to the FEC. She has said she will seek to repay the campaign's debts to others before paying herself back. Campaign vendors awaiting payment included the firm of strategist Mark Penn, owed $5.3 million, and the Dewey Square Group, owed $236,000.

The campaign also owed local firms in states such as Pennsylvania and Indiana, where Clinton fought in late, competitive primaries. She owed nearly $1,800 to Kokomo Center Schools in Indiana, for instance, and nearly $6,000 to Dakota Pizza in Wynnwood, Pa.

Comments

[TheGuide]

What's going on with those Hilary supporters? They can't donate $2.00 to $5.00 each to stop the embarrassment for Hilary? This is a horrible show of support and loyalty! If I knew others who feel embarrassed for Hilary would donate to make this debt go away I'd send her a maximum of $5.00.

[fearwig]

She can afford it.

When you continue to run a campaign you know very well you've lost, at the expense of millions, how can you expect people to come in and bail you out for the difference?

[kroses98]

Why can't she just "eat" it, like Romney is doing, with a lot bigger debt than she has? Can't she afford it, with her $100 Million in salary she and her husband collected in 2007 alone? I really don't feel sorry for her, and I wouldn't give her a penny, which is why she isn't getting many contributions, I would venture to guess!!!

[Liberoservative]

I thought that a PUMA was shouting out a couple of weeks ago that her debt would be retired two weekends ago..... Is it retired or not? Haven't heard a peep out of them about the debt lately...

I did my part and sent her 25 dollars, but that's all that I am going to do.... the rest goes to O and/or the DNC

[realiybased2]

To answer your question why Obama has not pulled out more ahead of McCain. One reason is that a lot of you refuse to acknowledge the fact that their alot of white people that refuse to vote for a black man period. Case and point, the "Hilary Supporters" that are going to vote for McCain.

The only reason is of course, racism. If you are a true democrat and you know what has occurred over the past 7 years, there is absolutely no way you will vote for McCain. The Bush Machine is already trying to make birth control a form of abortion is refusing money to any hospital, doctor, medical office, etc.....that offer birth control methods and to make it illegal. So go ahead and vote for McCain, this country will be pushed back anoterh 30 to 40 years and we will not be moving into the 21st century.

[openhand]

"The Dark Knight" Sets Single-Day Box Office Record

[fearwig]

Errrrrrrrrrrm.

[sociocanuck]

It's relevant. Think of all the potential HRC supporters who went to a movie instead of giving the cash to Hillary. :)

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

She has until the Democratic national convention at the end of August to raise money to pay off her loan, an unlikely prospect. After that, she can only pay herself back $250,000.

Clinton ended her campaign with more than $23 million designated for the general election. She is asking donors whether she can convert that money to the campaign account for her 2012 Senate re-election. Donors can also ask for refunds of that money.

[SaulGoode]

just another lie by the MSM to try to prop up O bammy

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11905.html

[doctorwang]

!?!

"Overall, Obama raised a total $54 million for his campaign in June, compared to $22 million for McCain."

Did you read the whole Politico article........?

[going2ireland]

Not to worry, O - You will get multiple donations a month from me until the GE. And these are $50 a pop.

O will not have any problems with his donations war chest. His supporters continue to give til it hurts!

[Bluejay00234]

Agreed! AS I am one supporter of many that will continue to give.

[sociocanuck]

If I weren't Canadian/UK citizen, I'd donate from every paycheck. Maybe I can find a loophole through an American relative...

[MaddiK]

The more money they raise, the more they will be sold to big corps and special interests. Both parties are sold to big corp execs with zero moral and manipulate people to line their own pockets. The time is now to save our country. The only way to take back the government is to vote for someone who’s NOT connected to this two-party sellout, and is on OUR side. WWW.VOTENADER.ORG. It’s time for a REAL change.

[dswansoniceman]

um. the average donation is under 100 bucks. That's the whole point of Obama's campaign. It's not the big money people behind it.. it's everyone who donates a few bucks.
Nader? give me a break. the dude does nothing for 4 years, then just decides he'll run for president without having attempted to create any kind of party platform himself. it's just a joke now.

[Countdown09]

You can hate corporations all you like the fact is we wouldn't have an economy if they didn't exist. The problem is the republicans have allowed them to run a muck. This mortgage crisis is due to the lack of oversight on the part of this administration, same for the oil industry and health care insurance industry. I think it's fair to say at this point that trickle down economics hasn't worked and I believe Sen. Obama understands that.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Please take that trash somewhere else....Obama is funded by the people for the people.

[wmbear]

Tells you sumpin, dunnit?

[kevenseven]

She conceded.

[Chandidevi]

CHUCK HAGEL - V.P.??? READ THIS!

7-13-08: Former voting machine exec looking to become America's next Vice President?

Mixing Democrats and Republicans on a presidential ticket is an appalling idea.

This weekend, another such merger has been testing public opinion waters. Republican Chuck Hagel is reported by the AP as saying he will consider the VP slot with Obama. This suggestion traces back to Hagel himself; there is no evidence that Obama has suggested this. The rumors may originate from the Republican Party, or could come from one of the Democratic rivals wanting to get on the ticket with Obama.

If you are in favor of moving to a one-party system and allowing a presidential ticket with ties to the nation's largest voting machine company. Hagel was CEO of one of the nation's most problematic voting machine companies, Election Systems & Software*, before he ran for office. His votes were counted by the company he had been running, while he still had $5 million in ownership. His campaign finance manager, Michael McCarthy, owned another huge chunk through the McCarthy Group investment firm.

*American Information Systems (AIS) changed its name to Election Systems & Software (ES&S) in 1997.

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/bbv_chapter-3.pdf

SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARD A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM

I liked having slightly more illusion about this great nation of ours than this current trial balloon permits. The uniparty concept is perilous.

There is no doubt that this is testing the waters -- by someone.

[Argente]

I finally unsubscribed from the Obama national and local websites. They both hit me up almost every day. Really obnoxious.

[ljmck]

Step right up, everyone. Send your milk and gas money to Mark Penn, he who is now in business with Bush pal Karen Hughes. You get to filter it through Senator Clinton, so it won't hurt so bad.

Obviously I'm no supporter of hers, but I would help (in order to pay off her smaller vendors), if I could see that she was doing all she could be doing to get Barack Obama elected. But no, she's said to be maneuvering and holding out for a prominent place at the convention or on the ticket. Apparently, issues and November mean nothing when it comes to the Clinton need to stay front and center.

One big speech, extolling herself and Bill Clinton as much as it did Senator Obama, that's what I heard. Maybe she should *start* "with all the speeches." I'm waiting. It would seem that her 18 million are waiting too.

[Triangle1]

Still, one has to ask. With all of that cash flow, why is Obama struggling to pull ahead of the Republican party? The Republicans have never been in worse shape, but they're totally competitive in this race. Having a lot of money sure is nice, but you certainly can't buy votes with it. I hate to say it, but he might just lose this race unless he adds Hillary to the ticket. And if McCain adds a good VP pick, it's over for sure.

[sanywhere]

just look at the coverage and you will see why. o is taken apart for everything while mcgoo is given a pass.

[djelimon]

On state level polls, Obama is doing well.

[andyboy]

Pure fantasy. Look at the last eight years. The Failure Monkey's have really outdone themselves this time. People don't vote for party's that perform like this. Mccain is a throwaway candidate. He is the presumptive loser. And for good reason. People are scared to death of these neo-con rapers and stealers. These mobsters in $2k suits who have torn America to pieces.

Less than 35% of americans even identify themselves as Repubs anymore.

There's going to be Republican heads rolling all over the land come November my good friend.

Take it to the bank.

[cjk002]

Take a look at the state-by-state polls and you'll see why Obama is spending all his money in the battleground states, he currenlty has a double digit percentage point lead in the electoral college (255 - 163), which is the only vote that really counts.

Obama is using the same strategy that allowed him to beat Hillary, ignoring the national polls while out-organizing McCain on a state-by state level. He doesn't need Hillary and her husbands shady presidential library contributions.


http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

[UnknownSoldier]

Obama is fighting against two opponents The Republicans, and the Media. He has to be very careful in what he says because the media is waiting to distort and twist his words. Just look at the flap over Access Hollywood interview with his family.

Yet not one "Journalist" went to Trinity church and asked any of the white members what they thought about Rev. Wright or Obama.

[mergina]

Reading about the campaign figures for these guys makes me want to puke. I mean really, give us an election, not home shopping network for candidates.

[djelimon]

I agree, but until people shut down 527's and corporate donors, it's the only game in town

[kevenseven]

I just wanted to check, excuse the off topic question, but is there anyone here who is prepared to deny that Ob ama is the nominee?

deaninphilly just stroked out on another thread shrieking that hill's concession speech was not a concession speech.

I will grant that it was miserly and ungracious, but it was a concession speech, was it not?

[Rashomon]

Even if it was not a concession speech it really doesn't matter. Almost everyone recognizes Obama is the nominee. Only a few Hillary holdouts think otherwise - but they will no matter what. It would be nice to get them on our side and maybe they will eventually when they see McCain is the wrong choice and a third party candidate has more unknowns than Obama. So at this point ignore anyone who says Hillary didn't concede.

[mergina]

hillary never did officially concede.

[ChiGuy]

If the most stubborn, cling-to-any-iota-of-a-possiblilty candidate was throwing in the towel, she KNEW that it was over.

She conceded.

[kevenseven]

She had no business going on after Texas.

Let her pay off her debts from her own checking account.

[gomonkeygo]

I didn't think it was a concession, though no Clinton supporter. I just think she completely bombed that speech, in many ways. It was pathetic for her and the Dems.

[kevenseven]

It was indeed a pathetic speech.

[msblynne]

I have a really hard time feeling sorry for Hillary's money problems... how much was spent after it was obvious to everyone (barring something like happened to Bobby Kennedy) that she was not going to be the nominee?

And all the while, doing her best to damage the real nominee (which she appears to have had some success in doing, long-term, with her supporters) in the process?

The debt incurred during the destructive, "vanity" part of her campaign is not one that we the people should lose a lot of sleep over. She didn't lose because she is a woman, she lost because he was the better candidate with the better message and better organization.

[roshni]

Absolutely - she brought it one herself. Shows how great she is at economic solutions.