Obama watch: $ 40 million raised in March + Jimmy Carter, PA and beyond

[General Duke]

The Nigerian paper This Day reports that the former president all but came out for Obama, speaking to reporters in that country:

 

We are very interested in the primaries. Don't forget that Obama won in my state of Georgia. My town which is home to 625 people is for Obama, my children and their spouses are pro- Obama. My grandchildren are also pro- Obama. As a Super Delegate, I would not disclose who I am rooting for but I leave you to make that guess.

[General Duke]

Obama raises more than $40m in March

 

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama raised more than $40m in March, on the strength of more than 218,000 new donors, the campaign reported today.

 

The amount is less than the $57m the Illinois senator raised in February, but is the second highest single-month total of the campaign.

 

Democratic senator and Obama rival Hillary Clinton raised $20m in March, the second best showing of her campaign. The amount is less than the $35 million she raised in February and half of what Obama's campaign said he raised in March.

 

Republican nominee John McCain, an Arizona senator, also has yet to release fundraising totals for March, but if the first two months of the year are any guide, Obama is expected to surpass his haul as well.

 

According to Obama's campaign, more than 440,000 people gave money, with an average contribution of $96.

 

"Senator Obama has always said that this campaign would rise or fall on the willingness of the American people to become partners in an effort to change our politics and start a new chapter in our history," campaign manager David Plouffe said in a statement.

 

"Today we're seeing the American people's extraordinary desire to change Washington, as tens of thousands of new contributors joined the more than a million Americans who have already taken ownership of this campaign for change. Many of our contributors are volunteering for the campaign, making our campaign the largest grassroots army in recent political history."

 

Obama has now pulled in more than $233m, putting the campaign on track to be the most costly presidential campaign in history. At this point in the 2000 campaign, for example, George Bush had raised just over $80m.

 

Political observers have credited Obama's large network of small-time donors for his fundraising success. The large number of relatively small donations suggests the Obama campaign will be able to tap those contributors in the future because they won't yet have given the maximum allowed by law, $2,300 each for the primary and general elections.

 

"I just look at the potential for that donor base," said Chip Smith, a Democratic strategist who worked for Al Gore's campaign, and is currently unaffiliated. "If he becomes the nominee, that base is going to expand even further."

 

Smith said the drop-off from February is no indication of any decline in enthusiasm or support for Obama.

 

"You've run into a little bit of a different phase of the campaign," he said. "There is an inevitable rhythm."

 

Until the campaigns file official finance reports with the federal election commission later this month, it will remain private how much the camps spent in March, how much they have in the bank and how much debt they carry.

 

As of the end of February, Obama had the most cash on hand, with $39m. Clinton had $33m - although roughly two thirds of that cannot be spent until the general election - while McCain trailed with $8 million. Clinton owed the most, with $8.7m. McCain owed $4.3m and Obama $625,000.