Obama Campaign Raises Over $51 Million In July

CHICAGO — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised more than $51 million in July and the Democratic National Committee reported $27.7 million in donations last month, putting Obama in a strong position for the fall campaign.

Obama began August with $65.8 million on hand and the DNC had $28.5 million available, according to statements released Saturday. His July total was slightly less than the $52 million he raised in June but still eye-popping because he was off the fundraising circuit at home during his trip to the Middle East and Europe.

Obama's Internet-powered fundraising efforts have shattered all previous records for a presidential campaign, bringing in a total of $390 million so far. The Illinois senator has announced he will forgo public financing for the general election, giving up $84 million in taxpayer dollars for the final two months of the campaign and committing himself to a steady pace of fundraising.

By contrast, Republican candidate John McCain has raised just $140 million and has agreed to accept public financing for the general election and the spending restraints that come with it. Unlike Obama, McCain will not feel the intense pressure to raise money in the fall.

Though lagging Obama in fundraising, McCain has remained competitive because of the Republican National Committee's success in attracting donations.

On Friday, McCain's campaign said the presumed GOP nominee had raised $27 million in July, his biggest monthly haul since clinching the party's nomination. McCain's campaign reported having $21 million available to spend.

The RNC said Friday it had brought in nearly $26 million in July and had $75 million on hand to compete with the Democrats. Much of that money has come through fundraisers by President Bush, unpopular nationally but still a potent draw among those who donate to the GOP.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said Saturday that 65,000 new donors contributed to the Obama campaign in July and that more than 2 million had now given Obama money for his presidential bid. The large pool of donors also means a larger number of people to ask for more money in the future.

McCain's campaign said it has logged 600,000 donors.

Comments

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Then how come he's going backward in the national polls?

[luvobama]

No. He's going forwards. You may need glasses. Or a brain. Not sure which,

[k6007]

both.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Go check the polls, idiot child. And then get back to me.

[harriscrl3]

Because true democracy isnt free we have to pay for it and obama has to pay to stop lies and smears and swiftboating books that serves to OBSTRUCT the democratic process. We have to pay to prevent Rethuglicans from STEALING our election. and hence our democracy. Democracy should never be taken for granted or you can watch it slowly slip away. You have to be vigilant in your fight to stop those who seek to take it away under the guise that its for our own good or they are doing it to protect us. We have to fight against that kind of ignorance, slander and fear mongering hence why we need money. MOney in this instance does NOT corrupt our democracy it PROTECTS it.

Carol

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

And please...don't lecture me on democracy. Unless you're over 54, I've been working for democracy since you were in diapers.

[dRwOOD]

600,000 - yeah sure u have, i'd cut that number in half

[williamg]

Being that he is focusing a huge amount of money to organization on the ground, and with the way he has decided to streamline his get-out-the-vote network with Dems running in local and statewide elections (something that Kerry did NOT), he will bring HUGE coattails down ticket.

This is just huge for the Democratic party.

[nellie]

His organization is unbelievably effective. He's going to make an awesome executive. Just think how effective our government will become overnight.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

How old are you? As if, one man could make this bloated government effective overnight. Get real.

[luvobama]

That is exactly what I was thinking. People complaining that he lacks experience are not paying attention to his brilliant campaign. The man is a genius! Obama08

[BabsfromKansas]

Obama is focusing on positive messages at the national level, i.e his Olympics ads, and using very focused ads attacking McCain's points in states where it's much more likely to hit a nerve with locals. It's a very smart plan because it doesn't inundate people with negative campaigning.

[williamg]

It is soooo smart.

[katmeyster]

I don't give very much, but myBarackObama makes it very easy to donate just a few dollars at a time. They constantly have new incentives that are tempting. I bought a special edition T-Shirt, a chance to meet him for dinner, and a chance to go expenses paid to Denver. I know its not likely, but I like the idea of it. Very smart campaign.

[BGDiNLV]

$5,$10,Heck $1. All so you can have a say.Just be there in Nov,because voting is FREE!!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I love how the Rethuglicans are poo pooing 0bama's money lead. They are so envious because for the first time in years Democrats have the money and they do not. Rethuglicans would k ill for McBush to have this much money, but then again they don't really like McBush.

[BabsfromKansas]

How sweet it is!

[Mabila]

LOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOLLLLL Rethuglicans!!!! You made my day!

[SouthPrairie]

Ironic that it's the Corruptlicans' elite candidate that just haaaaas to use American taxpayers dollars to fund his campaign. Seems that with all the Bush beer being sold in Iraq, Cindy could fund it on her own.

[Hammerkraut]

That's funny, considering that Obama himself was a big advocate of using tax dollars to fund campaigns, right up until his private donations starting piling up.

[barackobama4prez]

I got a 99 problems but a rethuglican ain't one ;-)

[nellie]

Anything good Obama does—that Republicans wish they could do—suddenly becomes a negative. No matter what. The GOP needs to trade in it's logo elephant with the upside-down stars for a green-eyed monster.

[lornejl]

No matter who is winning the money race, there is way too much cash in deciding the decider

[harriscrl3]

When republcans stop stealing elections with their swiftboating and character destruction then we have no need fo rmoney in election if you want to rail against something rail against the swiftboating and fear mongering that the republicans have engaged in becuase that is why Obama NEEDS this money its to stop the smears and lies about him. They just published a book design to swifboat him with lies.

Our democracy is screwed up because of Rethuglicans scaring people fear mongering and out right STEALING of elections.Until them Democrats MUST raise money if they want to have a chance to even the playing field.

Carol

[BabsfromKansas]

Truly - especially considering how underfunded our schools and social programs are.

[nellie]

The difference is the source. Obama has 2 million donors of small amounts. That's like his own campaign finance reform initiative. Maybe once he gets in the White House and we have a Democratic congress, we can persuade our reps to pass real public campaign financing.

[Hammerkraut]

Yeah sure it's all in small amounts. Have you once thought to check out the dollar figures he's getting from $1000-and-up donors? It's a gigantic amount, and a lot of that comes courtesy of corporate bundlers.

[SouthPrairie]

Not all money is created equal. Just ask Abramoff and Ney. Republicans are financed by corporations that evade their taxes by sending our jobs overseas, which is why the small donations (ie the widow's mites) of the Obama campaign, represents the American people, and though we have to work together to heal the wounds of the horrid leadership, or should I say, decidership of the last 7+ years, I'm putting my money on someone who will support the backbone of this country--THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! We have been used and abused by these Corruplicans and I much rather spend my money change the decidership than bomb, bomb, Iran!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The Rethuglicans are pounding their chest because McBush tied 0bama in the national Gallup tracking polls but the underlying numbers of the Gallup tracking polls speaks doom to McBush in the EC.

August 4th - 10th

Red States 0bama 40% McBush 49%
Blue States 0bama 54% McBush 35%
Purple States 0bama 47% McBush 41%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/108061/Candidate-Support-Red-Purple-Blue-States.aspx

East 0bama 51% McBush 38%
Midwest 0bama 50% McBush 38%
South 0bama 40% McBush 50%
West 0bama 50% McBush 40%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/108037/Candidate-Support-Region.aspx

There are a few indications in these polls. They show that in both parties voters are coming home, but that is a huge advantage for 0bama because of Dem increased registration. They indicate that 0bama has hit the magical 50% mark in much of the country where McBush is 40% and under in 3 out of 4 regions. It also shows Independents are a little more undecided and some have moved toward 0bama. Last but not least these numbers are much better for 0bama this week compared to last week when McBush's negative ads had some traction.

[BabsfromKansas]

National polls are meaningless - it the electoral vote that counts.

[barackobama4prez]

They should be worried. State by state is looking really competitive for O in red states.

[BabsfromKansas]

Electoral College

Obama 228, McCain 163, Toss Ups 147 | No Toss Ups: Obama 304, McCain 234

270 needed to win

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

[Mayoyo]

I gave him (BHO) twice this month...On to next month baby, I'm in.

[harriscrl3]

I give him money twice a month out of my paycheck because i"m PAYING for my democracy. If he doesnt have the money to fight the lies and swiftboating of his character. We Dont have a democacy when we vote because the other candidate got swiftboated or his character destroyed. So I'm PAYING to even the field and give True democracy a chance.

Carol

[Danigirl65]

I donate $100 per month - according to which part of the month I can afford to give. I'm willing to invest in my future. I challenge all other posters to do the same - whether it's $5, $20, or $100 - we cannot afford another four years of this crap, but we CAN afford to invest in our future, no matter how little - it all adds up at the end of the month.

[naluca]

Read Patrick Healy in the NYT and get just an inkling of why all the money in the world is not going to make this anything other than a tight, bitterly felt contest. For those with the cute slogans and teddy-bear language, you have know idea the disdain that is felt for this guy Obama among people who work, smart people who keep up with what is said, and people who have been through more than just a lot. Most people who write the above comments - chikdish as they are - would not last one day in the shoes of these people. This Obama phenomenon is a "perfect storm" of the shameful election process of the US, the values of its citizens, and the harvest of dumb and dumber culture, education, and media. Combined with a man who knows how to play the game, and has experience in very little else having to do with management or governance.

[nellie]

Nonsense. McCain has been stuck at the same poll numbers for months. Talking about "working people" as if there is anything to that meme is ridiculous. Who do you think is sending Obama these checks for $50? Trust fund babies?

[Hammerkraut]

No, the trust fund babies are sendng in that giant pile of $500+ checks that Obama has gotten.

[NER]

Hey, naluca, I'm not sure who you think you're describing when you call Obama supporters like me the "harvest of dumb and dumber culture." All I can say is that name-calling is disrespectful, no matter who's doing it, and in this case, it's you. As for your other complaints, what's wrong with our election process and our values? I, for one, am proud of our democratic process.

P.S. At this point, Barack Obama has currently served 10 years in elected office. The following highly regarded presidents (according to a 2000 Wall Street Journal poll of historians) served the same number of years or fewer in elected federal and/or state-level office before being elected president: Theodore Roosevelt (6 yrs) , Dwight Eisenhower (0 yrs), Woodrow Wilson (2 yrs), Abraham Lincoln (10 years), and Ronald Reagan (8 yrs), And, for the record, George W. Bush served only 6 years at the state and none at the federal level.

[justobserve]

The post scrip is an eye opener. Even people who emphasized "experience" didn't have any presidential experience before they got to the WH and made lots of mistakes after they were in, even for a second term. That is why a third term presidency is forbidden by the Constitution! Two terms of experience is still meaningless if the president's character and judgment are in haywire!

[Tropiholic]

you are totally our of touch naluca much like your elderly hero

[ella52]

OMG I thought you were actually writing about George W.
Experience has very little to do with governing when you are as morally corrupt and have no inclination to use what little education you might have had. Combined with the Republicans and McCain's insistence on walking away from just about anyone in real need, Vet's and their families, seniors; I'd say people with real intelligence are making sure that their hard earned money is going to someone who can effect change. Because my tax dollars sure ain't...my tax dollars are going to pay for billions in oil subsidies.
Wake up and smell the coffee, it's the middle class who are funding Obama in an effort to save this country from itself and from people who just want more of the suffering we have had for the last 8 years.

[TheRebel82]

Shut up you clueless clown! You rethugs are in for a drubbing in november. After 8 long years of your corrupt ideology in power.

[williamg]

It's a Hilllary supporter.

[FrocioAlbanese]

Wait a moment...not long ago the wackos at PUMA were squawking about Obama's money troubles. Could it be that they were dead wrong? Just like they were lying about the $6-10M they claimed to have raised for Hillary around July 4th to pay down her campaign debt?

Hmmmmm.....

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

0bama $51,000,000 whacko PUMAs 50,000. That's a blowout in anyones book.

The fact is that in the last IDP,TIPP poll 0bama was getting 80% of the Democratic vote to McBush's 82% of Rethuglican voters while 0bama beat McBush by 10 points among Independents. Both parties are coming home and by the end of the convention 0bama will put together the rest of the party.

[Tropiholic]

yes that 6- 10 million turned out to be 50,000.

[marymansour]

You go, Obama. Love that guy!

[Saxton]

If Hillary and her crew manage to swindle the nomination from Obama does that mean she gets to walk away with all the money that he was able to raise or can we contributers ask for our money back?

[nellie]

The Democratic Party is not going to let anyone overturn a nominee who can raise this kind of money. Especially to someone who is tens of millions in debt.

[Mayoyo]

Hell no, she ain't gettin' S**T....

[KYJurisDoctor]

I guess you can call Obama "the money man"!

[luvobama]

Or the next POTUS.

[justobserve]

Or the PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT!

[Collielady]

The MSM (consider the source) keeps telling us the polls show McCain closing in on Obama. So where does $51 million come from, the sky?

Hopefully, all those young voters who aren't polled because they only use cell phones, will come through and make this an Obama clean sweep!

[BGDiNLV]

Thank you!! Last time I checked 51 was greater than 27.It is amazing how they downplayed Obama's $51 million,but uplayed McShames $27 mill.Funny to watch.I predict after the convention.That Obama will tag a $80-$90 million dollar month in fundraising. Then let the ads begin.

[nellie]

McCain's numbers never move. Obama's go up and down depending on the kind of week he's having. But McCain is stuck. The undecideds are just holding out, trying to decide about O. But it seems everyone has already decided about four more years of Bush.

[lovethesinner]

Looks like the "Club For Growth" done shrunk.