April 01, 2007
Clinton Raises $26M... Good, Bad, Or Brick-Crap Time?
Here it is: Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign raised a record-setting $26 million for her presidential campaign in the first three months of a year, an impressive feat that may nonetheless be overshadowed in the next few days by news that Sen. Barack Obama managed to keep pace.
That Drudge headline: HRC "blows the field away" with $36 million -- refers to the $26M and also the $11M she transferred in. The "real" number is $26M. And that's not even the "real" real number, because a campaign spokesman said he was not able to say how much of that total was raised for use in the general election campaign. It's too early for that; the compliance figures are still coming in. We'll know on 4/15.
Said Patti Solis Doyle, Clinton's campaign manager: "As you can imagine, the interest in our first quarter fundraising has been tremendous. ... I;'m very proud to give you some preliminary numbers.... [but] we're still tabulating. We are completely overwhelmed and gratified by the historic support that we've gotten thus far."
Solis Doyle said the Clinton campaign "set a goal" of $15M -- and "I'm proud to say that we have dramatically exceeded our goals and expectations. In the last 10 weeks alone, we raised $26 million dollars."
The campaign was "pleased, proud, gratified" especially at the "tens of thousands of new donors" who gave.
So -- a good number? Yes, but really, not so much.
To their credit, not one official Clinton source led us to believe that they would raise more than $30 million. And, as we said, $26 million is a record for Democrats during a single primary quarter. And, all twittering aside, raising money in a crowded field, even when you're the 140 pound gorilla, is not the easiest thing in the world.
Like many other metrics, the number can't be isolated from its context. Some Clinton supporters will crap bricks when they learn that Sen. Barack Obama raised more than $21 million dollars -- maybe more. Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, declined to confirm that fact, but other Dem fundraisers who talk regularly with Obama's fundraisers say that Obama's sum will come close to Clinton's sum -- at least for the money raised into primary accounts.
Others will worry that $26M is as good as it gets for Clinton, especially since high dollar fundraising tends to drop off after the first quarter. For the rest of the year, Clinton will rely more and more on aggressive and costly direct mail, low dollar events, and internet appeals.
Leaking the $36M number to Drudge was purely tactical -- this way, Clinton's team makes certain that the $36M number is what the chattering class sees first. Getting ahead of the story and all these things, as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say. It'll take some time for the media to report the real number, which is $26M minus the general election cash. (make no mistake: cash on hand matters, too, and Clinton has a clear and distinct advantage here).
Gibbs, contacted as he was about to board a plane, wouldn't ballpark Obama's totals for us, so we're relying on other sources with less direct knowledge say. Still, more than $20M from scratch is, and will be, huge.
Some unanswered questions:
How much of HRC's money came from major donors? (Answer: about $20M) Are there big donors left to tap? Did her internet fundraising bear fruit? How will this be spun internally? Does Bill Clinton think this number is good?
[MARC AMBINDER]]
Posted at 02:00 PM
Comments
Hillary's strong week includes question about whether Obama will flame out like Howard Dean.
William | 04.01.07 02:28 PM
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The interesting thing will be to see Obama's numbers. if Obama raises about $20M, I'd say that is an impressive amount for Obama.
Daniel | 04.01.07 02:29 PM
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This is trouble for "Hil-Dog". That number represents $2100 of my own money but i was expecting 30-40 million in total raised. Instead we got 26? What happened here? Please tell me someone is going to fire her fundraiser or press team? Someone for this disaster...?
Carlos Merchant | 04.01.07 02:36 PM
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what about my guy. a sensation, right? but he's here to stay!
sista
michael rosen | 04.01.07 02:59 PM
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"Hillary fatigue" will be setting in among traditional Dem donors very shortly, if it hasn't already. This is a huge victory for Obama and Rangel's jabs at him this morning can only mean that Clinton's running scared.
thefranchise | 04.01.07 03:05 PM
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I believe that Hillary's take, if it is $26 million is not that great, considering she started out as the so-called frontrunner, with all the name recognition, the career political life behind her (Bill Clinton), etc. Barack Obama has more or less started from scratch, built a grass-roots organization, registered a lot of people on his website. I suspect when it is all said and done, Obama will definitely come very close to HRC, and will surpass her in the number of contributors. I suspect there will be many, many contributors who gave $5 or $10, and, for me, that translates into greater strength for the remainder of the primary -- the kind of strength that sends individual citizens to the polls. That, after all, is what counts. And, a footnote: Bill Clinton has been whining a lot, and pressuring contributors a lot, and they're getting tired of it, and defecting to Obama or Edwards (or other).
Gerarda | 04.01.07 03:09 PM
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... and the buying and selling of American Democracy continues UNABATED and UNBRIDLEDLY that folks don't even smell the stench anymore!
KYJurisDoctor | 04.01.07 03:12 PM
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I worry these are lowballed for Hillary and exaggerated for Obama. If Obama brought in 22 million to Hillary's 26, it's a real signal that Obama will win this.
If anyone has read Freakonomics, the most money does not equal a victory. All Barack had to do was stay in the ballgame. If he's actually come close to Hilllary numbers, the Clinton camp will have to go insanely negative on Obama and hope he takes the bait.
This would be horrible news for Hillary after the new polls showing Obama doing far better versus Guilliani and McCain (within a couple points of each) head-to-head than HRC. As an Obama person I'm very excited.
Obama 08 | 04.01.07 03:14 PM
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Why exactly is Clinton playing footsie with the Drudge Report? Or more to the point, why is the Drudge Report suddenly so willing to carry water for the Clinton campaign.
I agree that $26 million is very impressive, but I have to wonder, too, why her campaign would feel obliged to fib up that number to $36million by representing as fundraising moneys that she simply transferred over from her Senate campaign.
The more I read about her campaign, the more uncomfortable I get with it.
Bucky | 04.01.07 03:17 PM
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Hillary has the nomination locked-up....April Fools!
Jed | 04.01.07 03:20 PM
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Obama wins.
When the record comes out in full it will be proven that Obama's broad based popular appeal will be wider and greater than Clinton's.
Obama doesn't accept PAC money, and didn't transfer over $10mil from a previous senate campaign.
On his website his last campaign push is reporting 108,095 donations from 83,531 people. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am one of those 83,531 people, having donated $20.08 and $10 respectively!
By staying so close to the 140lb gorilla, Obama will have demonstrated to the many small contributors that he merits the risk they took, and no longer being a first-time donor, people like me will donor more next time and donate more often. When I donate again it will top $50.00 and keep ramping up.
Hillary has probably tapped out the large donors and now has no-where to run to when she needs more.
Dwight | 04.01.07 03:30 PM
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One thing I've noticed reading the Hotline every day is that Clinton didn't do very many fundraisers. It seems like Obama and Edwards traveled to every town and shook the trees for whatever they could get.
Mike Wyeth | 04.01.07 03:46 PM
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How much money do you think Hillary really needs to overcome her negatives? There really is not enough money. She can't make it.
Joseph | 04.01.07 03:56 PM
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I will bet that much larger percent of Barak Obama's money came from many small contributions than Hillary's.
CaptainVideo | 04.01.07 04:31 PM
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In addition to the dollars, it is very significaant that Hillary has half as many contributors as Obama... 50,000 to 100,000. Now that is real NEWS. No wonder Hillary, Bill and Company are in a PANIC.
party-of-one | 04.01.07 04:34 PM
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Here is the bottom line: Barack Obama is raising just as much money as Hillary, who was supposed to win the Demo nomination in a cakewalk and is now going to have to fight her way through the jungle.
If Obama ever catches her in the polls or goes ahead, we could see a death spiral for Hillary's campaign which was built on "inevitability" So basically Hillary and Bill are both throwing fundraisers and Obama alone is matching them.
And Edwards has the message, intensity and enough organization that he can be a factor, too, especially if he gets a few primary wins in a row.
Robert Morrow | 04.01.07 04:45 PM
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I think that, soon, numbers from various polls will convince enough Dems that HRC is probably immutably unelectable for a decline in her status/cash flow to begin to set in. I also imagine that the Swiftboaters' attacks on Obama for his unfortunate name (confusable with Osams) and their bogus charge of Islamism and vague foreignness will sink him with too many general voters, also. So, then, we have relatively unassailable, upbeat John Edwards (if Elizabeth holds), and if not, Richardson to catch the bouquet and cash flow. Or, Gore?
JamesHufferd | 04.01.07 04:51 PM
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just proves how stupid this country is.
The republican mormon things he will be God over the next world. Hillary already thinks she is God in this world.
some | 04.01.07 04:51 PM
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Wait a minute - there are no confirmed numbers here. What is the point of this story? To make Clinton look bad and Obama look good without any substantiation whatsoever?
Good lord. Pure cheeseball.
Let's wait until the reports are filed to celebrate everyone's success.
lorelynn | 04.01.07 04:54 PM
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This is not surprising at all. Obama is getting too much attention and support. Establishment democrats will never willingly allow an African American to get their party's nomination for President. It would go against the very core principles of all of their racial policies. The Clintons and Deans of the world feel nothing but disdain for black people. They believe they are genetically inferior and utterly dependant on powerful whites like themselves either to support them or to convince them to reduce their own population by way of abortion.
Eric | 04.01.07 04:59 PM
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Obama just needs to go away.
I ask this simple question: if he were WHITE, would ANYone give this man the time of day? He is utterly, embarassingly UN-qualified to be President.
Name ONE THING he has accomplished???
WashDCInformant | 04.01.07 05:12 PM
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Marc makes an excellent report here. There are layers and layers of numbers involved here. Let's make sure we are "Primarily" honest as to what numbers really matter:
see here Note: this letter was first reported here on the hotline.
MMM | 04.01.07 05:18 PM
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Im sorry but it seems they have another 12 year old at the hotline doing weekend duty who doesnt seem to know their history...
raising $26 million in a quarter is beyond huge. for reference , its more than gore raised in toto in 2000.
also these numbers werent "leaked" to drudge. I saw them on her web site in a press release before drudge posted them. I dont think any Clinton campaign is going to waste a press prize like that on that freak.
Love the Hotline...lets try to know the past and not to make up things about the present.
tl | 04.01.07 05:19 PM
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Based on other reports it seems that Clinton was able to raise money from about 50k donors. According to Obama's front page he took in money from 83,531 people, meaning Obama has roughly 67% more donors. Combine that with the fact that Obama's smaller donors are substantially less-likely to have maxed out than Hillary's high-dollar donors (thus giving Obama a much larger group to hit for repeat donations) and Clinton's presumed fundraising dominance could be seriously endangered.
Jcosta | 04.01.07 05:22 PM
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Obama stays close, and Hilly is fudgeing her numbers. That's the important thing. Bambi's numbers are real.
section9 | 04.01.07 05:40 PM
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Who gives a rats a--? It's all a bunch of lies anyway, like democraps saying they're against the rich or that global warming is real.
Only fools don't know that it's really all about the rich getting richer, using the media to gain more control over the "little people" ie; anyone that doesn't have a net worth of at least a million dollars.
We live in the era of lies and deception in America, where money and power rules over everything and everyone.
All the chasers will croak terribly. 9/11 was fun and game compared to what's coming. The denials afterwards will be deafening!
OTTMANN | 04.01.07 05:49 PM
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Good for her....I am a long time Republican who is now considering a jump to the Democrat party...
Steven W DeCord | 04.01.07 06:20 PM
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Why aren't you reporting that 80% of Clinton's money came from donations under $100 -that's pretty grassroots if you ask me!
You guys learned everything you know from Drudge et al-Stop hurting our democracy- tell the whole truth please-
Menemsha | 04.01.07 06:28 PM
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Hillary raised so much money in the last ten weeks because Bill was doing the fundraising. It was Bill who did the "one million in a week" campaign. It was Bill's face you saw on her website for the last couple weeks.
How much of that $26M is a direct result of Hillary's fundraising efforts?
Concerned Voter | 04.01.07 07:08 PM
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The real headline is that Obama raised 21M..THAT's the news.
That he kept pace with a sixteen year established politician who is seen as THE top fundraiser for DEMS is the NEWS!!!
Obama in '08...leave Hillary at the gate
elrapierwit | 04.01.07 08:25 PM
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The race is over.
The party of the working man and the little guy has chosen its candidate. What? You say you feel left out? Had no say in the matter? Well why didn't you make a contribution? You could have sent in a few bucks and you would have had a chance too to be heard by one of the few Whitewater investors who have not been convicted of a felony.
The McGovern reforms of 1972! Increase democracy. Now anyone with a few million to shell out can get his or her opinion registered by the Democratic party.
Hillary will have the moolah. There will be wall to wall advertisements for her next February.
It takes a Village. Actually it takes only Hollywood.
The big blue states will be heard.
Then Giuliani on the other side.
Then Bloomberg will come forward.
Land of the pilgrim's pride from every mountainside let freedom ring and let's do that Gay Marriage thing from sea to shining sea.
D. Martin | 04.01.07 08:31 PM
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For over 200 years, and with women as the majority of voters, this country has never elected a woman President, has never nominated a woman for President, and has never had a woman raise more money than all the other men in a Presidential campaign. Not only has she raised the most money, but she is the smartest, most policy savvy, strongest, most qualified woman ever to run for President. It's time to break the thick glass ceiling to the Presidency. We can do this. Run Hillary Run!
doug | 04.01.07 08:34 PM
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As a devoted Democrat - I hope this is as good as it gets for HC and that my preferred candidate Barack Obama continues to ascend. There is no way in hell that HC can win a national election. If a yellow dog Dem like me can't stand the sight and sound of her, how will she gather the necessary GOP and Independent support she'll need?
vickie | 04.01.07 09:29 PM
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Hillary is NOT the answer for America. She will drop out because she doesn't have the backbone to face losing.
mark | 04.01.07 10:41 PM
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I just can't wait till Hillary is President
Charlie | 04.01.07 10:46 PM
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What is clear is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have established vast fundraising machines. This will set the pace for a money driven campaign without precedent in American history. Hillary Clinton knows that she must maintain a dollar lead over Obama prior to the primaries, to sustain her front-runner image. It may be that Bill Clinton must play a more active role in the campaign than planned, to ensure Hillary's dollar totals remain ahead of Senator Obama's.
Sheldon | 04.01.07 11:41 PM
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For those readers trying to keep tabs on the presidential candidates, could you please write something about how their views and ambitions relate and what their respective strengths and weaknesses are rather than how much money they have been able to raise?
Chris | 04.02.07 12:32 AM
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Marc Ambinder desperately hopes Obama will raise at least $ 20 million so that he can claim "victory" as he started zero base. The "reasons" adduced by Obama supporters are "energy", "youth", "fresh face", "out-of-the-box-thinking" and such mush.
Not one supporter or the media talks about Obama's stand on any critical matter that concerns America. In Nevada, Obama cut a sorry figure fumbling and bumbling in the debate on health care when both Edwards and Hillary put across their plans with great clarity.
Likewise on Iraq, Obama 's "I dont know" response on Larry king Live" [when asked how he would have voted if he had the same intelligence inputs US Senators like Hillary had] shows that his making a big deal out of his "consistent" opposition to the Iraq war is thoroughly hypocritical. After becoming US Senator, Obama and Hillary voted identically on all Iraq related resolutions!!! Talk about Obama struggling to draw a "distinction without a difference" !!
Obama's self imposed halo of virtue and "clean" politics was exposed when he did not condemn David Geffen's comment that "the Clintons lie all the time" or when Philip de Villers created the "1984" ad portraying Hillary as a dictator. He lied about having nothing to do with the 1984 ad when in fact Philip de Villers created his website and roomed with his campaign staff!!
He lied claiming he was never a Muslim, but after news filtered out of Indonesia that Obama indeed attended madressahs and prayed at mosques his spin doctors claimed "Obama was never a practicing Muslim"!! His "Christianity" is purely a political garb devoid of any conviction.
Obama claims total identification with blacks despite his mother being white. He has disowned his white grandmother and has kept her out of reach to the media!! What has he done for the upliftment of poor among Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and even poor whites who lost their jobs when their factories shut in Illinois??
Obama will soon have to face Hillary in TV interviews and will be forced to spell out his policies. Let him get ready for these contests and show he has what it takes to convince the mature voter of the center that he will be able carry both Democrats and Republicans.
Espi | 04.02.07 01:07 AM
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I'm for sure they can use the $$$$$$$. Manure spreaders are expensive.
Mary | 04.02.07 03:15 AM
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What a joke campaign finance reform turned out to be!
Richard L.A. Schaefer | 04.02.07 04:09 AM
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Does anyone know how much of the $26 million raised by the Clinton team was due to the work of NOT Hillary but Bill?
juandos | 04.02.07 08:02 AM
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I don't see how the fact that a lot of rich people gave Hillary money equates to America loves Hillary.
It just means that her husband is good at manipulating people. Without him she would be dead in the water.
Just like she would be if she ever got into offices.
Kim Workman | 04.02.07 09:05 AM
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To WashDCInformant,
You are in a dream world. Obama will be the next president of the United States of America. This is something you will have to live with.
Don't forget that this country was built by slaves.(BLACKS)
I donated $1,000 to Obama and I am willing to donate more. Obama's Campaign started form 0 dollars and had to build itself up; he did not have money transferred into his account. I admire this young man and will do anything to see him win.
Kudos to Obama.
willie james | 04.02.07 09:44 AM
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Name one thing Hilary has accomplished.
Fred App | 04.02.07 10:01 AM
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26 million is impressive by ANY standard – and it is a RECORD amount. To all the Obama supporters – when will we start to see all the hype pay off in the polls?. Obama has been glorified by the press on a daily basis since October 2006 and is still 10 – 15 points behind Hillary in every national poll. So when will the hype translate into a lead?
craig | 04.02.07 10:11 AM
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Umm...How is it legal to take money from people for one thing, a Senate campaign, and use it for something else. Wouldn't that be fraud if a regular citizen did that?
Paul | 04.02.07 10:44 AM
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Hillary, what are you going to spend those $26m on?? People already know you!
Anon | 04.02.07 11:29 AM
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WashDCInformant,
Obama got many bills passed as a state Senator, including bills on campaign finance disclosure, an earned income tax credit, mandatory taping of interrogations and confessions in death penalty cases, support for residents who could not afford health insurance, requiring insurers to pay for routine mammograms, and AIDS-related funding.
He has also sponsored or cosponsored several successful bills as a US Senator, including the Lugar-Obama expansion of the Nunn-Lugar antiproliferation program and the Coburn-Obama program requiring transparency in federal funding.
In addition to his activities as a legislator, he has been a civil rights attorney and taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.
DTM | 04.02.07 11:30 AM
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What has he accomplished? Give me a break! Here's a short summary of Obama's experience to date:
First, he has 10 years of senate experience (8 state senate 2 federal) with many aisle-crossing bi-partisan solutions. In the state senate, he sponsored 780 bills, 280 of which were signed into law. In his first year as U.S. Senator, Obama held 39 town hall meetings throughout Illinois, and in the senate, sponsored 152 bills and resolutions, and cosponsored 427 more. Speaker Harry Reid designated Barack Obama as the Senate point man on ethics. Obama is known for his unquestionable ethics and integrity.
As a state senator, he added health insurance for 20,000 children, welfare reform, earned income tax credit, and increased the minimum wage ($5.15 to $6.50). Instituted death penalty reform requiring interrogations to be videotaped -- passed the Senate 58-0, signed into law by the governor who first opposed Obama’s bill. Sponsored a bill probing police profiling.
Obama opposed Iraq war publically, long before the invasion. Accurately depicted it as undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined objective, resulting as civil war. Same assessment Bush Sr. & Dick Cheney both gave in early 90’s.
In the federal senate, he worked with Republican senator Lugar to expand and author a program to locate & dismantle stray Russian WMD’s left over from the cold war after the disbanding of the USSR. In Jan. 2007, he introduced a major ethics/lobbying reform bill, with Russ Feingold, which insisted on tougher measures banning lobbyist gifts/ meals/ jets,
disclosure of earmark & contribution bundling to candidates or committees, and restricts retiring Congressmembers from going into lobbying.
Obama cosponsored the Secure Orderly Immigration Act by John McCain, which passed 62-36. Makes undocumented persons who have been here 5+ years only allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, if they pay back taxes, learn English and have no criminal record. 2 million undocumented persons who have been in the United States for less than two years would be ordered home.
All this aside, remember that "experience" has given us the likes of Cheney and Rumsfeld. As far as I'm concerned, integrity and good judgment far outweigh "experience" as a presidential qualification.
LuckyCharm | 04.02.07 11:51 AM
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"Run Hillary Run" Hmm... I think that could make a great bipartisan bumper sticker... You people put it on the rear, I put it on the front.
kayce | 04.02.07 01:22 PM
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Obama's gonna crush!
Even if he doesn't break Hildog's money this quarter, I'm sure he's going to start smashing in future quarters.
Obama all the way!!!
C-Mac | 04.02.07 01:24 PM
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Obama is the future. I was one of the 88,000 supporters to donate to the Obama camp. I also started small, only kicking in a few hundred dollars out front. I plan on donating more $$$ and time to the Obama campaign. It's the least I could do for someone who actually believes in this country and its way forward, instead of his (her) own political gain.
redge | 04.02.07 02:01 PM
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I find it deplorable that so many people on this blog attack Hillary. What are they all afraid of? Seems like you naysayers are the ones in a "PANIC" that your boy Barack is going to be the next Howard Dean! Where is Boy Barack's plans? Besides getting out of Iraq! We all want out of Iraq! He has a VERY thin resume and lacks substance. Personality is not enough for me to vote for you to be MY president. I need someone who knows what to do.
Funny thing, is that I'm considered Barack's base: African-American, Male, Uner 35. Yet, I'm raising money for Hillary. Most African-Americans I know (I know a lot) are not "All about Barack"
Whites like him because he doesn't slap you in the face with "White guilt". Well, just wait to when it gets down to where the rubber meets the road. When he is in African-American churches trying to get votes, he WILL say whatever it takes to get that vote because he knows the support will fade when they realize he has no record to run on.
Wake up! Support Hillary!!!!
SeattleLatte | 04.02.07 02:56 PM
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I can't wait 'til Hill wins either! I'll be dead before that happens.
LL | 04.02.07 03:48 PM
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I think that it's disgusting that the one who has the most money has the best chance of winning an election.
There should be a dollar limit, possibly $10-million, so that maybe someone more competent and better educated, with heavy-duty integrity might be able to participate.
But, then I also think we should have a, "...vote of no-confidence" avabilable to us voters.
Gerri Larsen | 04.02.07 07:00 PM
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It is great that Hillary comes in like a Goliath with $26 million; but if Barack comes in close behind it is clear, they are 'living' in the same neighborhood and that the Obama juggernaut sits squarely on her front lawn. The race heats up--politics is fun!!
www.vernasmith.blogspot.com
Vee | 04.03.07 09:00 PM
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I agree that it is time for America to have a women president. However, Hillary is not a good candidate. I am not seeing the amount of leadership that I need to see in order for her to have my vote. Also, Obama is just more likable and mainstream.
Willie | 04.06.07 07:00 PM
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A Week of Exciting Politics!!
It is great that Obama has made such a great showing in his fundraising efforts. Twenty-five ($25m) million is impressive, but is this really an indicator that he will be nominee? I do not think so.
The money helps, but there is still ways to go; this week, however,he clearly won the slamdown.
Vee | 04.08.07 05:53 PM
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Well, I think Obama has really started from scratch as someone mentioned..
Hats off to Hillary too as a campaigner
Sean Taylor | 04.11.07 03:20 AM
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I think Barack Obama is the best candidate. He unlike Mrs. Clinton, has managed to raise 26 million without the help of lobbyists or political action commites. He is the only candidate to have opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, and he is the only one who dares have the audacity to hope.
AdvocateForChange | 07.21.07 12:07 PM
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