Fundraising has set record, Obama says: $4 million raised in last quarter

[Freddie Stubbs]

By David Mendell, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Liam Ford contributed to this report
Published July 7, 2004

In an apparent attempt to strike fear into the heart of any Republican thinking of taking on Democrat Barack Obama in the race for the U.S. Senate, Obama on Tuesday said his campaign had collected $4 million in the last fund-raising quarter.

That figure, Obama boasted, is the most money ever raised over three months by a Senate candidate in Illinois. And it doesn't exactly bode well for the GOP, which is still trying to field a candidate to replace Republican Jack Ryan, who last month said he would withdraw from the ballot.

Obama, who has ramped up his campaign staff since the primary, said he has spent some of that money but still has $3 million on hand with four months left in the race. With Republicans in disarray, that means that unless Obama's opponent is fully or partially self-financed, the Democrat should have a significant fund-raising advantage.

In releasing the $4 million figure Tuesday--10 days before required under federal election law--Obama's apparent strategy is to ward off a deep-pocketed or popular Republican from seeking the GOP nomination, or at least force prospective candidates to think again.

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0407070178jul07,1,947342.story