Barack Obama is likely to raise several hundred million, if not close to a billion, dollars

[bigtree]

from Outside the Beltway: http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/obamadnc-raise-a-combined-70000000/


The Third Quarter was quite successful for President Obama and the Democratic Party: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obamadnc-raised-70-million-in-third-quarter/

The Obama Campaign and Democratic National Committee raised a combined nearly $70 million for the 2012 campaign from July through September, the groups reported today in an email to supporters.

Obama for America brought in $42.8 million, while the DNC banked $23.7 million, a campaign official told ABC News. The figures include transfers from the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account that funnels money to both groups.

Obama’s robust total, surpassing the campaign’s $55 million goal, reflects the continued effectiveness of his campaign money machine, and the advantages of incumbency to help turn out cash, all despite months of sagging poll numbers and flaring economic frustration.

More than 606,000 people donated to Obama in the third quarter, including 257,000 first-time donors. The campaign has now received contributions from nearly 1 million Americans so far this year.'


And each of those donors can be solicited again. By the time the Republicans have settled on a nominee, Barack Obama is likely to have several hundred million, if not close to a billion, dollars in the bank and a fully funded nationwide ground operation. Don’t go measuring for drapes in the Oval Office just yet, Republicans.


read more: http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/obamadnc-raise-a-combined-70000000/

[SidDithers]

1. But how can that be?...

When so many donors from 2008 have told us they're not giving this time 'round?

Sid

[dionysus]

3. now Sid, this is the new DU. many people will bwe highly offended that he's raising money for his

campaign.

[dionysus]

4. now Sid, this is the new DU. many people will be highly offended that he's raising money for his

campaign.

[RyanPsych]

29. The GOP Alternative led me to donate to him

I may no longer particularly like Obama that much at the moment, but I absolutely LOATHE the Republican party

[Javaman]

32. this is the choice...

the sane corporatist or the insane corporatist.

[Bandit]

41. Big Money has an interest and we all know what Big Money wants Big Money gets...

The more money Obama brings in the more he becomes bought...

[bigtree]

42. in the last presidential election

Individual contributions to the Obama campaign totaled $656,357,572, or 88%.

'Big Money', in the form of PACs, made up just a miniscule fraction of the total.

figures: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638

[hfojvt]

50. big money also comes from rich PEOPLE

you know, those with the wherewithal to donate the full $4,600.

[AlinPA]

2. Will it be enough since the republicans can get many billions, given the SC ruling

on Citizens United?

[bigtree]

6. good question

There's still the value of the visibility he'll from the elevation of his presidency, but he's also a visible target for any of the challengers. I hope for a protracted republican primary with most of their early dollars spent bashing each other. That should allow the WH to sit on their money until the general.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. That ruling applies to us as well, we too can use it and will

Also, money is of limited use, although the machine likes to project that money is all, it is not, skill is all. Enough is enough, too much is in fact too much. Ask Meg Whitman, then Jerry Brown, but remember to call Jerry Governor Brown when you do it.
"They are as sick that surfeit with too much as those who starve with nothing." Willy the Shake

[AlinPA]

40. I hope so because the republicans will be swimming in money.

[ThomWV]

5. And this time around not a single dime of it will come from me

What does he care if little guys like me have seen that he isn't going to stand up for us, what does he care for our measly little contributions when his largest contributors are in the Money Industry. After all, its the man who pays you that you work for.

[Crazy Dave]

7. Rec+

[bigtree]

9. it's clear that there are quite a lot of individual donors who see this presidency differently

"Many of those are small donors, giving $250 or less, according to numbers provided by the Obama Campaign. Of the 766,000 donations received in July, August and September combined, 98 percent were $250 or less, officials said. The average donation was $56."

[Arctic Dave]

38. You may want to revise your numbers.

70,000,000 divided by 766,000 is not 56.00.

[bigtree]

39. not my numbers

[WI_DEM]

12. are you aware that the average contribution was $56--not exactly 'big money'

I don't care if you contribute or not, that's your business, but just want to let you know that most of this money came from ordinary people.

[Javaman]

33. Same here, my "political" donation is going to OWS this year. nt

[TomClash]

10. Great!

They don't need my money. I can devote my campaign contributions to local politicians I know, rather than throwing them into the Beltway abyss.

[bigtree]

13. you know

. . . that's a great thought. The party is flush right now, as well. We need to use the present progressive energy to organize around some progressive replacements to advantage our initiatives and concerns in Congress. More power to you.

[TomClash]

31. Adding to that . . .

. . . the further down the food chain you give the more it is appreciated and needed.

[WI_DEM]

11. and the average contribution during this last quarter was $56

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bigtree]

16. well,

. . . the hundreds of thousands of individual, small donors organizing their precious resources behind this presidency is something to crow about. There would certainly be a field day for his critics if he failed to draw support or was outmatched by his republican rivals. This is a good sign of grassroots support for our Democratic president and party. Someone out there thinks they've accomplished something worthwhile enough to continue.

[Romulox]

22. According to a recent report, Obama has received more money from Wall Street than any President

in the last 20 years.

http://influenceexplorer.com/industry/securities-investment/0af3f418f426497e8bbf916bfc074ebc?cycle=-1

[bigtree]

25. this contribution report doesn't reflect that

Besides, I thought we established that they are just 1% . . .

[Romulox]

26. That's not a very satisfying answer to a very troubling question. nt

[bigtree]

28. I just question their influence with this many individuals making up the bulk of donations

[banned from Kos]

18. perhaps you are just ungrateful while others donate $56 out of appreciation

for his accomplishments.

Petulance often occurs in the most spoiled child.

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. If I was Obama, I 'd collect as much money as I could for campaigning then use it to finance a

non-profit private single payer health system.
And I'd put it into effect a month before the election.

[bigtree]

19. that would be awesome

I can think of a few individuals who would make that kind of contribution, but I'm not sure this president's campaign will be able to afford to ignore the politicking from their rivals.

[Shagbark Hickory]

24. Oh I neglected to mention that if I wasn't re-elected than so be it.

At least I accomplished something great that helps all Americans and may even alter the course of history.

[bigtree]

27. that's a great thought that can be adopted for many causes

I'll carry that with me . . . thanks, SH.

[boston bean]

17. obscene.

[bigtree]

20. so, how many of those individual donors should have sat out this contribution cycle

. . . to satisfy your principle?

98% donating under $250 - average donor giving $56?

I get your point about money in elections, but I can't find much wrong with these small donors who make up the bulk of the contributors.

[Hatchling]

21. I'm sorry, but that is obscene.

I can't fathom that amount of money needed to campaign (by both parties) for President. It's just not right.

I guess the good news is all that money should go back into the economy.

[bigtree]

23. should the campaign limit the number of these small donors who make up 98% of the total?

I just don't know what is so obscene about individuals wanting to support this presidency with a little cash.

[nichomachus]

30. Most of his money came from Wall Street in 2008

And probably will this time

[bigtree]

35. you may be right if you're talking about individuals from those interests

But, look. The consensus among the OWS protestors is that the WS wealthy make up about 1% of taxpayers.

In presidential elections, most of the money raised by candidates comes from individual donors. PAC contributions (where corporations and others bundle money) make up only a tiny fraction of candidate receipts, usually about 1 percent. In the last presidential election $656,357,572, or 88%, came from individual donors.

[fascisthunter]

34. in other words he is being bought and paid for

because our political system is corrupt.

[Javaman]

36. +1 nt

[bigtree]

37. 98% of the contributions this reporting period have come from small, individual donors

'Bought and paid for' by average Americans.

[Shagbark Hickory]

44. If 98% of those donations are for $5.00 and the other 2% are for much higher amounts...

It is the 2% that we seem to keep having this corruption problem with.

[uponit7771]

43. Obama hate makes people just make up stuff about him, over 90% comes from small donors

[Shagbark Hickory]

45. If 98% were for $250 or less, doesn't that mean that 2% (11,040 donors) could be for

much higher amounts and therefore be the ones that influence policy?

[bigtree]

46. sure, $2300 is the maximum amount allowed

. . . most of those donations come from repeat donors who amass a total over time.

I still don't see how these big donors outweigh the benefit of the majority of these lesser contributions. But, for the record, the donations to the Obama campaign under $250 amounted to about 46% of the total in the last election. He raised 27% of his money from people whose total contributions fell in a middle range ($201-$999). More than previous nominees, but not an astronomical figure.

[Shagbark Hickory]

47. Who are you going to listen to then. The corpoviduals that donate the larger amounts or the

nameless, faceless, lobbiestless, $20 donors?

[bigtree]

51. It's like needing republicans and independents to put the vote over the top

He couldn't survive at all without the individual contributors. I think it's amazing he can still get big money contributions with all of the 'big money' invested against our party from unaccountable corporate sources. The party is still fueled by average Americans and their votes (as well as their money). He'd be loath to forget that. Besides, he has to be attentive to the millions in small donations that came through the internet and elsewhere. It was a virtual revolution in the last presidential election.

[brooklynite]

48. Actually $2,500 this year...

[Joe Fields]

49. look at where the money is coming from. That tells you all you need to know.

And, as like last election, it will tell you just who will benefit.

Quid pro quo.

[Hubert Flottz]

52. You get a little more lube for your money when you donate to the democrat.

It makes the fucking you're fixing to get feel a tad better.