Obama campaign nearing ONE MILLION donors

[Adelante]

We learned something extraordinary since I wrote to you last night.

We've crunched all the numbers and discovered that we are within striking distance of something historic: one million people donating to this campaign.

Think about that ... nearly one million people taking ownership of this movement, five dollars or twenty-five dollars at a time.

We're already more than 900,000 strong, including over half-a-million donating so far this year. This unprecedented foundation of support has built a campaign that has shaken the status quo and proven that ordinary people can compete in a political process too often dominated by special interests.

Unlike Senator Clinton or Senator McCain, we haven't taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. Our campaign is responsible to no one but the people.

One million donors would be a remarkable feat -- something that's never been done before in a presidential primary and something no one ever thought would be possible for us. And your generosity made it possible.

But it's going to take an incredible organizing effort to bring in 100,000 new donors before March 4th.

Be a part of this historic effort. Make a donation as part of our matching program, and you will bring in a first-time donor by doubling the impact of their contribution. You can even choose to exchange notes and let them know why you are part of this movement.

There's less than two weeks until March 4th, but you can be part of this historic push right now. Make your matching donation here:

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

We started this improbable journey a little over a year ago in Springfield, Illinois.

And because you've joined together to make your voices heard, this journey isn't looking as improbable anymore.

Since our victory on February 5th, we've won ten straight contests.

But on March 4th, we face a huge challenge in Texas and Ohio, who will vote along with Rhode Island and Vermont. We are behind in the big states and need as many people involved as possible if we're going to win.

If we can reach our goal of one million donors by March 4th, we can send a powerful message that the Washington establishment and big-money interests cannot ignore.

As one million people with one voice, we can tell them that their days of dominating Washington are coming to an end -- the old politics are crumbling and a new voice is breaking through. Our voice.

Will you make a matching donation now to make it happen?

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

I learned the power of ordinary people coming together as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago.

I worked side-by-side with people who had been laid off from steel plants that were moved overseas. These were people who needed new jobs to rebuild their lives, and their political leaders were ignoring them.

But even though the odds were stacked against them, they discovered that by coming together with one voice, they could no longer be ignored.

When we launched this campaign, we knew we were up against similar odds. We knew we'd be running against a massive political machine with deep ties to the Washington establishment.

We knew it wouldn't be easy.

But if we can do this, we're not just going to win an election. We're going to change our country.

Thank you so much,

Barack

http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/ffa7d11ba16b81c1/FEBAiL/VEsH/

[Adelante]

1. In February, expected to raise more than $36M

A source of mine tells me that an Obama fundraiser confided to him that the Obama campaign is on track to raise a startling sum in the month of February:

More than $36 million.

Obama raised $36 million in January, and given his victories and momentum, it makes sense that he'd be on track to exceed that and have his best month ever right now. An Obama spokesperson declined to comment.

Separately, here's another astonishing statistic: The campaign will soon report that it has enjoyed its millionth donor.

As I reported earlier today, the Obama camp quietly passed the half-million mark in donors for just this year. Now, in an email to supporters that just went out, the Obama campaign wrote:

"We've crunched all the numbers and discovered that we are within striking distance of something historic: one million people donating to this campaign...We're already more than 900,000 strong."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/source_obama_on_track_to_raise.php

[BuyingThyme]

2. This stuff sells.

[LSK]

3. but but but I thought he only took Corporate money

:eyes:

[Abacus]

4. Feb 29th

is when I plan to make my next donation. I wish I could do it now, but it's going to be hard not to overdraft this month as it is. (I'm one of the less-than-$50K-ers that I keep hearing about.)

[Arugula Latte]

5. One Meeeeeeeellion Donors! Bwa ha ha!

[ORDem]

6. And no lobbyist or PAC money!

:woohoo: :headbang: :applause: :yourock:

[From The Left]

7. A Million Donors Under $100 Dollars!

Remarkable.

[Thrill]

8. Just sent in another 20 bucks!! Lets keep it going

[Hutzpa]

9. I have a question

What does Senator Obama plans to do with this accusation from John McPain
about public funding?

[GoldieAZ49]

14. I hope he chooses not to go with public financing

He has unlimited spending without it.

He has grassroots funding, he doesn't need to take taxpayers money.

McCain is going to push this because he cannot raise the money Obama can.

[Adelante]

16. He had an op-ed today on this: Both Sides Must Agree

In 2007, shortly after I became a candidate for president, I asked the Federal Election Commission to clear any regulatory obstacles to a publicly funded general election in 2008 with real spending limits. The commission did that. But this cannot happen without the agreement of the parties' eventual nominees. As I have said, I will aggressively pursue such an agreement if I am my party's nominee.

I do not expect that a workable, effective agreement will be reached overnight. The campaign-finance laws are complex, and filled with loopholes that can render meaningless any agreement that is not solidly constructed.

As USA TODAY has critically observed, outside groups have come to spend tens of millions of dollars "independently," while the candidates they favor with these ads "wink and nod" at this activity. There is an even greater risk of this runaway, sham independent spending now that the Supreme Court has wrongly opened the door to more of it in a recent decision.

I propose a meaningful agreement in good faith that results in real spending limits. The candidates will have to commit to discouraging cheating by their supporters; to refusing fundraising help to outside groups; and to limiting their own parties to legal forms of involvement. And the agreement may have to address the amounts that Senator McCain, the presumptive nominee of his party, will spend for the general election while the Democratic primary contest continues.

Continues

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/02/opposing-view-3.html#more

[Fly by night]

10. If 650,000 is "nearing" a million donors, then he is.

The 650,000 number was reported last night on PBS.

But then PBS ain't what it used to be.

[Adelante]

17. 902,306 as of today nt

[Fly by night]

19. I stand corrected. (So much for PBS as a source).

Where did you get such a precise number?

[Adelante]

20. It was a linked image in the email

It's on the front page of the site, too.

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

[sniffa]

11. That's nothing

HRC has raised almost 15 million in the first 15 days of February. It's most likely been pissed away poorly, but there it is.

[hogwyld]

13. Don't forget that 5 million of that 15 million

went to repay herself for her generous campaign loan...

[sniffa]

18. and don't also forget

the big chunk of that spent prior to Feb. 5, which is included in this figure.

[Blarch]

22. The difference is....

who they raised it from.

[K Gardner]

12. I just pledge to match a donation and within 30 minutes had an email from the

sweetest young woman in Maryland, thanking me for matching her donation !

We're cooresponding now.. this is exciting !

I'm going to go do another one ! This is a great way to double your contribution !

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

[Labors of Hercules]

15. You can add my name to the list...

YAY!!

[Califooyah Operative]

21. I'm glad to be a part of it! nt