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

[firewmn]

*
I'm ...IN...!!

The Fierce Urgency of NOW..!!
*

[BabsfromKansas]

Fired up and ready to go!

[Citizen08]

Fired-up ready go!

This is great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNgA5xLxao

[poco767b]

KaChing!

[Zhonni]

YES! YES!! YEEEESSSS!!!

[PAposter]

LMAO!

[NotBeatenYet]

Barack's doing really well. Looks like Republicans will have to work overtime on caging, vote tampering and intimidation to steal this one.

[Gracehoper]

I have faith in them. If there's one thing they won't mess up, it's election-stealing.

[truegreen]

$ 51 million says 'O' is a far better candidate than McJobKiller.

[johjac]

"McJobKiller"- Ha, that's pretty good!!

[LASteve]

Will corporate or soft money sponsors of the Democratic Convention be given special coverage, maybe prime time infomercial speaking rights?

Announcer tag line:

The Democratic convention, live from Denver, brought to by a generous grant/bribe from Halliburton.

[justwaitandsee]

I see you still haven't donated, what is your problem

[psfurlong356]

No but the McCain campaign is underwritten by the Republic of Georgia, that we know for sure.

[RustyGranite]

I get to hold a boom mic for my $180 in contributions.

Its fun, you should try it.

[CTmom13]

Halluburton is Cheney/republicans, they are the ones with all the deals. I am sure the oil companies donated tons for the repub conventions

[Cookie100]

Ah Steve, you again. B ush raised $998 for the Rethugnican party, and Halliburton, that's your guys organization. Halliburton is all about YOU REPUGNICANS

[Totto]

Obama Campaign: Will you please illustrate McCain's inconsistencies, his enthusiasm for war, his lack of any health care program, realistic economic policy, Social Security, etc., etc. That's what I'm sending in $100 a month for. The truth will win. Bite back!

[psfurlong356]

....his collaboration with the Republic of Georgia in advance of the current "crisis"

[Totto]

Eggsactly! And Rove's meeting with Saakashvili.
Just a few thousand dead to swing an election.

[optech007]

I guess this means the economy isn't as bad as everyone says it is. If he can raise this much money people must not be struggling, because 0bama only takes donations from regular folks, right?

[CindyM2008]

Yep! And some of us are cutting back more to accommodate the donations we make. GO bama!

[ebethgay]

I don't think so. I'm becoming more frugal because of the economic downturn and only spending money where it's really important. I'd rather give money to the Obama campaign than go see a movie or eat out. It's about making choices, and I choose to invest in the future of our nation.

[Totto]

The economy is crap, buddy. But living in your gated community, you wouldn't know.

[BabsfromKansas]

I set my spending and savings priorities - the future of my children and grandchildren are my priorities -so this "regular folk" donates to 0 every month.

[Seattlelite]

Optech007 - what it shows is how desperate people are for a new direction and a "real" commander and chief.

[TheRebel82]

And alot of that money is from U.S troops too! Gobama!

[Seattlelite]

I can't wait to see his "birthday haul" figures for August.

[PAposter]

Oh, yeah, that's right, I'm thinking those figures were included. His numbers should be really good for August, and I believe the money will increase even more after the convention.

[Seattlelite]

If you've not already done so, It's still August not to late to send O that belated $47 donation birthday gift!

[williamg]

This is big trouble for Republicans:

0bama is outraising Mc.Cain 2 to 1.

The DNC for the first time in years has outraised the RNC last month.

The DCCC is trouncing the Republicans, outraising the NRCC 2 to 1. At the end of last month, the DCCC had $55 million cash on hand, the NRCC had $8 million cash on hands.

[Pepper14]

Looks like Obama is trying to buy the election but it won't work. It has been shown that just because you raise and spend a lot of money that you win the election. I think all this money is obscene and voters should reject it also if they are really concerned about where all this money comes from. I don't see a landslide by Obama at all in fact I think this will turn off a lot of voters. For someone that wants change he is pretty much like any other politician.

[PAposter]

heh heh heh! Are you f*cking crazy?

[psfurlong356]

>>"It has been shown that just because you raise and spend a lot of money that you win the election"

[CindyM2008]

LOL. guess Pepper screwed up the talking point today.

[jupitor]

And I think all that money from Oil comp. and over seas fund raiseing for Mccain is Obcene, but oh well, Each to his own. At least Obama belongs to us, and not the lobbyist and big corp, like mccain.

[williamg]

Dumbest. Comment. Ever.

[justwaitandsee]

And if that's case are you going to donate or what.

[Charmed]

I have been donating different amounts since his win in Iowa........I will continue to donate to "Obama". I will also continue to do the groundwork by working in our Obama office. We had to combined it with other local officials but it all seems to working out.

[psfurlong356]

Okay...

I covered ALL bases in July and August:

Donations to

Obama
DNC
Hillary (debt)

let's hear it ;)

[PennP]

#3 lost me. Good money after bad.

[psfurlong356]

I see Hillary supporters as adding greatly to the effort and the sooner the primary details are worked out the sooner we concentrate on McCain. Hillary and her supporter are fierce, we need them.

[williamg]

I reluctantly gave my $10 to her last month. I ain't giving her another dime.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I think you were the only one, williamg.

[ebethgay]

She has 18 million supporters who can cover her debt. I'm glad you're willing to help out with it, but I'd rather put that money towards my light bill.

[veteran1964]

The donations for Obama CANNOT pay off Hillary's debt. Money has to be donated to a special fund to pay her debt off. Read the rules and listen to the rules and you will have a better sense of what you are talking about.

[psfurlong356]

uhhh?? I donated directly to Hillary, calm down

[RustyGranite]

I'm pretty sure he knows that. He made 3 donations.

[YouDisgustMe]

yay!! go obama!