Democratic Donations Keep Pouring In, but for Clinton, There’s a Catch
By LESLIE WAYNE
New York Times
Democratic fund-raising continued at a breathtaking pace in February, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, with candidates breaking records as soon as they were set. But behind the unprecedented numbers are several trends: Big money has come from the smallest donors and the impressive amounts raised by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton mask some shakier campaign finances.
Over all, the field of Republican and Democratic candidates combined has raised a record-setting $790 million since the presidential campaign began 14 months ago. Senator Barack Obama’s one-month fund-raising total of $55.5 million in February was the most ever by a Democratic primary candidate — and topped the record $36.8 million he had raised the month earlier. Mrs. Clinton took in $34.5 million.
Of the combined $90 million raised in February by the two Democrats, more than half came from donors giving $200 or less. In total, Democrats raised $47.7 million last month from small donors, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, a Washington research group that studies campaign finance data. This compares to $5.1 million in small donations for Republican candidates.
The 2008 presidential primary is changing many of the rules — and common assumptions — of money and politics. Candidates who have spent huge sums of money — for instance, the Republican Mitt Romney, who spent $109.7 million — are no longer in the race. Meanwhile, the candidate who mid-year switched to a slimmed-down budget, Republican Senator John McCain, is now his party’s standard bearer. Mr. McCain raised $11 million in February, to bring his campaign total to $58 million.
(Continued here.)
New York Times
Democratic fund-raising continued at a breathtaking pace in February, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, with candidates breaking records as soon as they were set. But behind the unprecedented numbers are several trends: Big money has come from the smallest donors and the impressive amounts raised by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton mask some shakier campaign finances.
Over all, the field of Republican and Democratic candidates combined has raised a record-setting $790 million since the presidential campaign began 14 months ago. Senator Barack Obama’s one-month fund-raising total of $55.5 million in February was the most ever by a Democratic primary candidate — and topped the record $36.8 million he had raised the month earlier. Mrs. Clinton took in $34.5 million.
Of the combined $90 million raised in February by the two Democrats, more than half came from donors giving $200 or less. In total, Democrats raised $47.7 million last month from small donors, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, a Washington research group that studies campaign finance data. This compares to $5.1 million in small donations for Republican candidates.
The 2008 presidential primary is changing many of the rules — and common assumptions — of money and politics. Candidates who have spent huge sums of money — for instance, the Republican Mitt Romney, who spent $109.7 million — are no longer in the race. Meanwhile, the candidate who mid-year switched to a slimmed-down budget, Republican Senator John McCain, is now his party’s standard bearer. Mr. McCain raised $11 million in February, to bring his campaign total to $58 million.
(Continued here.)
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