Dean Leads Dems in Fund-Raising for 2004 (AP)

[dajabr]

WASHINGTON - Front-runner Howard Dean has broken former President Clinton's Democratic record for most money in a three-month burst, while new rival Wesley Clark is turning to some of Clinton's most loyal and effective fund-raisers to help him jump-start his presidential campaign.

No Democrat is coming close to President Bush's fund raising, however. Bush is expected to collect about $43 million by the time the third quarter ends next Tuesday, bringing his total this year to roughly $78 million, GOP officials said.

Dean, raising millions on the Internet, is likely to take in $13 million to $16 million this quarter, a campaign insider said. That would lift him to at least $23.5 million for the race so far and likely make him the Democratic money leader for the year.

Democratic strategists say Dean could raise at least double what his party's other top hopefuls will collect during the third quarter. The former Vermont governor has already passed the Democratic record set by Clinton, who took in $10.3 million over three months in 1995 for his re-election.

More: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/6851171.htm

[wryter2000]

1. A question

I'm a Dean follower, so this is NOT A BASH.

I have to wonder about the strategy of setting such high goals for fundraising. Currently, they're trying to raise $5mil in 10 days. Is this a good strategy in the sense it inspires supporters to aim for high goals? It looks to me like it might be setting the campaign up for a failure.

I'd appreciate more experienced opinions than mine on this.

[pmbryant]

2. Questions

If the goal were $3M and they raised $3.5M, would that be a 'success'?

If the goal were $5M and they raised $4.5M, would that be a 'failure'?

:shrug:

--Peter

[UnapologeticLiberal]

4. No, and I am kind of flipping out

Because I am scared we won't make the $5 million goal. They seem to be taking risks by shooting for the moon, rather than playing the usual game of low-balling. In some ways it is smart, because even if we don't get to $5 million we will still have raised a lot. But the problem is, no matter how much he raises, if he fails to raise $5 million online in the next 6 days, I am afraid that is what the press will harp on.

Let's finish off the first bat

[DianeK]

10. trust...

they will make the 5 mil, and then some

[UnapologeticLiberal]

3. Alright!

How do we know this? Are they releasing 3rd quarter figures already??? Or did a contribution to the bat put the campaign over?

Let's finish off the first bat already!

[dajabr]

5. I think all the campaigns "leak"

rough figures - to ensure that the spin starts early on where they finished...

[UnapologeticLiberal]

6. But Dean is low-balling, right?

These are not actual numbers? Not that they are not great...I am just worried about the bat and I hope they are at least low-balling the other numbers so that he won't fall short even if the bat does not reach $5 million.

Make this a September to Remember

[dajabr]

7. You can bank on 10+ million...

13-16 Mil depending on how things go with the bat...

[wryter2000]

11. No kidding

Wow. I sure hope you're right. Even though the dem candidates are way better than Whistle Ass on the issues, it's going to take $$$$ to beat him.

[RogueTrooper]

9. Neither have any of the "traditional" fundraisers

Neither the Avalon bash or the SEIU fundraiser have been added. They are worth a mil+change between them.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

12. Yeah, but I don't think they do count

I think it is just money that is donated over the internet (they are trying to break the McCain record of $1 million in 1 day)...or maybe it is over the Internet and in the mail. I don't think events count.

You Have the Power!

[Larkspur]

8. Awesome!

I had a feeling that they set the record and the $5 mil was icing on the cake.