Campaign Contributions Nearly Double Old Record

[babylonsister]

Campaign Contributions Nearly Double Old Record

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Tuesday, February 26, 2008; Page A15

This year's presidential contest has been groundbreaking in many ways, but none more than in the race for campaign cash.

So far in this primary election season -- in 2007 and in January 2008 -- the presidential candidates have raised a combined $542 million from individuals, according to the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. That's nearly double the previous record of $285.7 million raised during the primaries in the same 13-month period in 2003 and 2004.

Remarkably, the proportion of large vs. small donations has remained pretty close despite the huge overall increase. Contributions of $1,000 or more have accounted for 58 percent of individual giving in the latest 13-month period, the institute said. That compares with 64 percent during that same period of the previous presidential contest.

Small donations of $200 or less, fueled largely by the Internet, accounted for 28 percent of individual contributions during the most recent 13 months. In the same period four years ago, small contributions accounted for 23 percent, a change of just five percentage points.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has raised about half her primary money so far from donors who gave $2,300, the largest amount allowed. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), in contrast, have raised only about a third of their funds from "maxed out" donors.

Obama has received 36 percent of his donations from contributors of $200 or less, while Clinton has raised 17 percent from them. McCain has collected a quarter of his contributions from these small donors.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502576.html?nav=rss_politics

[fed-up]

1. I'm sure the MSM is happy with all the extra $$$$$$$$$ to brainwash the masses even further nt

[LiberalFighter]

2. Doesn't mean diddly

The dynamics between 2004 and 2008 are different.

First, we had a President that contributors weren't ready to dump and consider others to back.

Second, the Republican Party does not have the power and finances it once had.

Third, the election does not involve an incumbent President or VP.

Fourth, the primary candidates involve more candidates.

Fifth, the primary required more elections/caucuses for a nominee to be decided.

Lobbyists even have been giving to Obama, at least according to the center, despite his refusal to accept money from them. That's possible because Obama and the center differ over what a lobbyist is.

Obama takes no money from federally registered lobbyists. The center says a lobbyist is anyone who works at a gun-for-hire lobbying firm, as well as their closest relatives. This distinction could become troublesome for Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination.