THE CARROLL NEWS: Obama campaign raises $40 million in March

Obama campaign raises $40 million in March
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Bridget Lynch on 10 April, 2008 01:30:00
 
Sen. Barack Obama raised another $40 million for his presidential campaign in
March. That total falls behind the record $55.4 million he collected in
February. However, his overall fund-raising of more than $237 million has broken
the record $185.6 million of President Bush at this point in the 2004
presidential contest.
About four percent of Obama’s campaign money raised through the end of
February was for the general election, compared with 13 percent of Hillary
Clinton’s cash, according to the non-partisan Campaign Finance Institute. 
Neither Democrat said how much money they have on hand or disclosed their debts.
 Candidates are required to report these details, due to the Federal Election
Commission on April 20.
In March, Obama’s presidential fund-raising allowed him to wage an
aggressive campaign for his party’s nomination in Pennsylvania and other
states with upcoming primaries.  He broadened his pool of donors with 1.3
million people contributing to the more than $40 million raised last month.
Clinton raised only $20 million in March; 43 percent less than the $35 million
she raised in February.
Barack Obama has been running ads in Pennsylvania for nearly a week. Clinton
launched her first ad on April 3 in North Carolina, but has yet to do any
advertising in Indiana.  Both states hold primaries on May 6.
David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, said the March haul demonstrated
that the American people have an extraordinary desire to change Washington. He
noted that the campaign attracted 218,000 new donors last month and that the
average donation was $96.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson played down Obama’s fund-raising when
interviewed by USA Today saying, “We knew that he was going to out raise
us.”
Arizona Senator John McCain would not release his March fundraising numbers. He
significantly stepped up his fundraising events, but the presumptive Republican
nominee has lagged far behind the Democrats in the money contest.  He held 25
fund-raisers last month, even though he spent a week on an overseas trip,
according to The Associated Press.
In addition to hitting bank, Obama gains more support from a super delegate.
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal says that Obama can end the partisan bickering in
Washington.  Freudenthal was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. As
a popular Democrat in a traditionally Republican state, he knows how essential
it is for Democrats to be able to articulate a vision that appeals to voters
across the ideological spectrum.
Obama won the Wyoming caucuses on March 8 with 61 percent of the vote.  Also
last week, the Obama for America campaign announced that Pedro Pierluisi of
Puerto Rico endorsed Obama for president. Pierluisi is the New Progressive
Party’s candidate for the office of Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
to the United States Congress in the upcoming November 2008 elections.
Larry Schwab, political science professor at John Carroll University said,
“This continues to show the amazing ability of Obama to raise campaign
funds. His advantage in funding helps him in the final primaries. It also helps
him in his efforts to persuade super delegates to support him. He can point to
his funding advantage as another reason why he would be a strong candidate in
the election.”
With the financial support combined with political endorsements, Obama is
poised to out raise Clinton again this month and stockpile more money for the
general election.