World | USA
Illinois senator's campaign receives 2m individual donors
Democratic camp reaches new record by amassing by far the most contributors ever in a presidential race, bringing in a total of about $340 million by the end of Jun.
- By Foon Rhee, The New York Times Service
- Published: 23:58 August 15, 2008
New York: Barack Obama's campaign announced on Thursday that it has reached another milestone in its record-smashing fund-raising - two million individual donors, believed to be by far the most contributors amassed by any presidential candidate.
The presumptive Democratic nominee, harnessing the power of the Internet like no candidate before him, brought in about $340 million (Dh1.25 billion) by the end of June, compared with about $145 million (Dh532 million) for Republican rival John McCain.
"It's a positive sign that more people are getting involved in something that for so long has been the province of the very wealthy elite few," said Massie Ritsch, spokesman for the nonpartisan Centre for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign money.
Obama's campaign frequently highlights the thousands of small-dollar donors. "Today we achieved something amazing - 2,000,000 donors owning a piece of this campaign," a message said Thursday on Barack Obama's contributor website.
"In the face of John McCain's low road tactics, it's more important than ever to keep our movement growing and show the power of millions of grassroots supporters coming together to work for change."
The centre notes, however, that half of Obama's haul has come from people giving at least $200 (Dh734), and the McCain campaign has often noted that Obama is receiving a significant number of contributions of more than $1,000 (Dh3,670) even as he emphasises the small donations.
Because Obama is bypassing public financing - while McCain will accept about $84 million (Dh308 million) in public money for the fall campaign - Obama will need to keep up the pace by bringing in new donors or by persuading existing ones to give more.
Ritsch noted that while Obama's two million donors represent less than one per cent of the population, about nine per cent of taxpayers check off their federal income tax forms to fund the public financing system, meaning that McCain will be drawing from a bigger population pool.
McCain sent a fresh fund-raising appeal to his supporters Thursday, saying he needs money to spend before Labour Day. After that, because he is accepting public funding, he will not be able to spend privately donated funds.
"I am ready to lead our country as president but I won't win without your support," he wrote. "Beginning September 1st, we will be limited in the amount of money we can spend in this election and Senator Obama will be able to spend whatever he wants to defeat me."
Also Thursday, the staff of the Federal Election Commission recommended that the agency's board approve McCain's withdrawal from the public financing during the primaries. Democrats had accused McCain of using the promise of federal money as collateral for $4 million (Dh14.7 million) in loans he received.
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| This article on the national political campaigns in the United States is from The New York Times. It was specially selected and prepared by the editors of The New York Times News Service. |
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