MyDD :: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January

Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January

by Jonathan Singer, Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:24:47 PM EST

I've been wondering why I've been seeing so many ads for Barack Obama here in California relative to ads for other candidates of either party. Now it seems I understand why.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised $32 million in the single month of January, a whopping figure that has permitted the campaign to boost staff and extend advertising to states beyond the sweeping Feb. 5 contests, aides said Thursday.

Obama is now advertising in 20 of the 22 states in play for next week's Super Tuesday and plans to begin advertising in seven more states that hold primaries or caucuses later in February. Rival Hillary Rodham Clinton is advertising in 12 Super Tuesday states, including her own home state of New York.

[...]

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the campaign attracted 170,000 new donors for a total of 650,000 donors overall. The $32 million raised in one month matches the campaign's best three-month fundraising period in 2007, when the campaign raised $30 million in primary money and $2 million for the general. The money raised in January was all for the primaries.

I'm still not particularly sold on the strategy of staying on the air on a network like MSNBC -- I can't imagine that there is a terribly large number of undecided voters here in California watching MSNBC at 2:30 in the afternoon (or watching the talking head shows cable news networks in general) given that the target audience of a show like Hardball is political junkies who have likely decided long ago -- but I suppose if you have the money it can't hurt. Either way, it's hard not to see this as a potential momentum boost for Obama just five days out from Super Tuesday, a period at which winning news cycles (even cycles just a few hours long) can matter.

Tags: Barack Obama, Fundraising (all tags)

Permalink :: 51 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

I hate to reference Karl Rove here but it's salient to your point ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12017379 1597330347.html?mod=opinion_main_comment aries

by kristoph on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:28:57 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

His "math" in 2006 didn't seem to be all that good.

I never bought the genius of Rove in 2004, I certainly didn't buy it in 2006, and I think it's been well-refuted by 2008.

He's a relatively successful hack - he's got no special insight to offer anyone, GOP, Dem or just political junkie.

He's a master smear artist - nothing more. Don't conflate an amazing ability to push the lines of decorum with any special sort of insight.

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:57:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Perhaps (none / 0)

Obama has seen how much MSNBC has been bashing Clinton and wants to make sure they stay on his side? Hey, weirder things have happened.

It is a nice sum of money. Definitely something his campaign should be happy about.

by BDB on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:31:21 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

The Obama camp is putting in a serious effort in post 2/5 states.

The Obama camp, I understand, is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst (which is apparently a 3 state victory) but their convinced they can make up a 100, even a 200, delegate margin after 2/5.

by kristoph on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:31:49 PM EST

Obama is the establishment candidate (none / 0)

You don't raise 32 mill all on line, he has had to make some promises to earn the cash. As he would say people don't hand you money and not expect something.

He has the DC establishment pushing him now ... Kennedy, Kerry, even the 'Dean' Broder is talking him up.

The media eats him up like candy as well.

Clinton has an uphill battle at this point. Outspent, out outgunned in DC, and in the media. It is always tough to beat the establishment. But is anyone can, Hillary can.

by dpANDREWS on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:31:53 PM EST

Total Bullshit. (none / 0)

by rapcetera on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:32:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Where are my facts wrong? (none / 0)

by dpANDREWS on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:33:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Where are my facts wrong? (none / 0)

Just because Obama has a few prominent senators on his side doesn't mean he's the establishment. Clinton overwhelmingly has the support of the Dem machine - unions, interest groups, etc. that do GOTV. Hard to paint a former First Lady with the head of the Dem party at her side as fighting the establishment.

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:40:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Where are my facts wrong? (none / 0)

The MSM is painting her as the underdog now. I am not sure if that will help or hurt her. It certainly helped in NH.

by kristoph on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:27:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Where are my facts wrong? (2.00 / 1)

Here's the first place your facts are wrong -did you see it was from "170,000 new donors"? He got the new money from lots and lots of new people, 170,000 new people, hmmm unless, are all of them DC insiders? And what about the total 650,000, are they also part of the secret cabal of insiders?

You facts are wrong in the way Faux News is wrong, just spin and dribble.

I'm not sure you are doing yourself any favours if you want to be taken seriously. Your point --He has to have made promises to insiders because he has raised a lot of money --isn't serious comment and is just a Rovian attack to boost your side of the argument. I supported JRE, and don't like the funding system for elections, I am eager to hear substantive arguments, but really please try harder than this.

Spinning Ted Kennedy's endorsement as if it meant control or sell-out is the kind of attack that drove Edward Kennedy to come off the sidelines and support Obama.

Attempting to blurr Clinton's far greater amount of superdelegate support as if she was an "outsider" and "underdog" is patently laughable.

by inexile on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:40:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

don't know why you wasted your time explaining or (none / 0)

answering dpAndrews. s/he displays absolutely no objectivity when it comes to obama. A waste of keyboard strokes.

by rapcetera on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:29:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is the establishment candidate (none / 0)

Totally True....

He's the media darling, but so is Ryan Seacrest.

by JFK464 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:49:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is the establishment candidate (none / 0)

I see that you conveniently don't mention the record donor counts...

170,000 first time donors in January alone... More than 650,000 total donors.

But yeah... keep whistling.

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:00:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is the establishment candidate (none / 0)

An innovative spin, but it's not one she would embrace. She's still riding on "inevitability."

by Drummond on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:10:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is the establishment candidate (none / 0)

For Clinton supports to paint Obama as the establishment candidate is a tad hypocritical, no? Or have you forgotten her strategy of "inevitability."

I like Clinton, but let's keep it real, people.

And quit bitching about the MSM favoring Obama, you sound like my Republican friends whining about the "liberal, biased" media.

Fact is, the don't favor him. The MSM simply likes the Obama storyline. It's grand. It plays. It sells.

by wolff109 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 04:35:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

A ton of that money has gone towards funding his grassroots campaign. This is small incremental money coming in from the people. Its a people powered movement.

Progressives like me are contributing in droves. I'm in for over $1500.00 already and will be contributing more. Before this campaign I had NEVER GIVEN A DIME to anyone.

I am finally glad we have a voice.

by rapcetera on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:32:13 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Obama has been raising tons of cash even when he loses so this is no surprise. If he loses on Super Tuesday, he will still get a load of cash, probably more than Clinton. He has that going for him. He is now the establishment candidate with more money and the media at his fingers. Good for him. I have never been more worried about my candidate's chances. Hope she does well.

Interesting point, the media loved McCain's attacks on Romney. When Clinton does it, she's the devil...

Restore America's Strength.

by RJEvans on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:36:54 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

In fairness to the media, if they were not on the Obama's side there would be no contest so it's obviously in their interest to build him up.

I just hope we don't have to go past 2/5 but I guess Obama is already prepping for it.

by kristoph on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:49:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (2.00 / 1)

Folks, the guy who was trailing in the national polls by 25+ points for most of the race and who is facing the former first lady and the party's most recent president is not the "establishment" candidate. That's just silly.

by HSTruman on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:36:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (1.00 / 1)

The MSNBC and CNN advertising has two purposes:

a) playing to his main base (beltway insiders)

b) a quid pro quo. CNN barred pro-Clinton pundits from their broadcasts two days after the $1 million Obama ad buy started. Since that day, every CNN analyst is either an Obama supporter (Donna Brazile) or a Clinton-basher (Carl Bernstein).

by hwc on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:39:14 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Time to take off the tinfoil hat.

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:43:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (2.00 / 1)

OHHHHH thats who watches CNN and MSNBC!

I never knew! Their numbers are so small but they so much money! I always wondered how they stayed on the air with only a couple thousand viewers each week.

by inexile on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:42:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

General Election: Will America vote for Obama as Commander in Chief?

by CLK on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:41:28 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Will they vote for Hillary?

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:43:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Yes to both, with the right running mate. Obama/Webb? Clinton/Clark?

by evap on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:46:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Heck, yes to both even without a running mate. Obama's got excellent foreign policy judgment and Clinton has tons of experience from the last 16 years.

by Kal on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:03:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Neither has enough experience. To fight the lack of experience meme, he needs an elder statesman. Robert Byrd maybe. Or Diane Feinstein.

by Drummond on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:11:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Watching cable last night, I saw an Obama ad, followed immediately by a Hillary ad. Living in NYC you can basically hear the money flowing down the drain with every single ad buy. But an ad here does reach three Super Tuesday states, so that's something.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:50:40 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Any hint on how much Hillary has raised?

by JFK464 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:51:02 PM EST

Win-win for Axelrod (none / 0)

Everyone would kill him if he didn't spend everything he can to win Feb 5th, and he gets a commission on every dollar spent on TV. At this point in the game field is already budgeted, all they can spend extra money on is autocalls and TV. Even if Obama loses Axelrod gets a huge windfall, and nobody will blame him for not spending enough.

by souvarine on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 01:52:12 PM EST

FROM DRUDGE (none / 0)

OBAMA RANKED 'MOST LIBERAL' SENATOR IN '07...

RASMUSSEN National Poll:

Clinton 42% Obama 35%

Clinton is consolidating her strength as the true candidate of the center....

by Zeitgeist9000 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:04:15 PM EST

Re: FROM DRUDGE (none / 0)

Oh, that last part was my take, not Drudge's!

by Zeitgeist9000 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:04:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FROM DRUDGE (none / 0)

Yes, Clinton is less liberal than Obama and independents hate her, great combination!

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:09:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FROM DRUDGE (2.00 / 1)

I love it...

So the "Obama hearts Reagan" and "Obama uses right wing talking points" and "Obama is a stealth Republican" didn't work out...

Now he's too liberal?

Wow. Camp Clinton has to be in full-on panic!

I mean - it's one thing to switch attack tactics when one doesn't work, but this is like tossing darts while blind-folded, drunk, and dizzy.

WWWWWHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:04:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FROM DRUDGE (2.00 / 1)

Looks like they will say anything to get Hillary elected.

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:09:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Actually.......she's just had the republican spin machine on her for the past 16 years. With Obama, the media has been giving him a free pass....that wont last forever. He's down 6pts to McCain when hes had NOTHING but favorable press over the past 2-3 years?? While Clinton is similarly down but has been attacked by the spin machine for the past 16 years...

So far ive had 3 people who said "i will never vote for clinton"....then a few months after hering her campaiging, they're telling me "ok...clinton does have some good ideas...im going to vote for her shockingly"

in a way its like this, clinton has nowhere to go but up since all the negative stuff about her everyone knows about already...obama has no where to go but down.

by werd2406 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:17:32 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

I spoke to a group of friends yesterday who are not at all into politics, and are not overtly partisan but don't like Bush...they were arguing, and this was funny to me, between Obama and McCain, with most of them leaning Obama. When I broke in to tell them that Clinton was in fact the more likely nominee, it didn't take them more than a second - "McCain."

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:27:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Yes but what do they actually KNOW about Clinton, McCain, and Obama? Most young people and people new to politics like Obama "because he has a nice attitude" and its the trendy thing to do and hes gotten positive coverage coming out the ass.

When i talk to people who say they dont like Clinton i ask why and they go "Oh...you know...its just....yeah, ya know?"= product of the right wing spin machine, soon to be taken apart when people actually listen to her message.

by werd2406 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:45:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

What do they know about Clinton? Well, she was First Lady for 8 years, senator for two terms and has been in the national spotlight for over a year, as has Obama.

If she hasn't established a positive image among independents yet, how will she? She's had 35 years to do it!:)

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:56:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

McCain is Bush's father. Don't think they wouldn't support Hillary after they find out that the maverick is worst than Bush.

by JFK464 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:00:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wow (none / 0)

What's the MOE on your 3 person sample size?

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:06:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What states is Clinton Advertising in? (none / 0)

The source article from Yahoo says Obama is advertising in all 22 states except Oklahoma and Illinois.

However, it doesn't specify which 12 states Clinton is advertising in besides NY?

Does anyone know the answer to this? I would be very curious to know, as it probably gives an indication about her strategy for which states to try and carry on Super Tuesday.

by BringtheFight on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:23:12 PM EST

Re: What states is Clinton Advertising in? (none / 0)

I don't know the answer to this, but it is weird that I have seen tons of Obama ads, some Huckabee ads, and even Ron Paul ads, but no Clinton ads yet.

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:24:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What states is Clinton Advertising in? (none / 0)

Ron Paul is on the air in Chicago, oddly enough... at least on the radio.

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:08:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What states is Clinton Advertising in? (none / 0)

The funny thing is, they're actually well-produced, mainstream ads highlighting Paul's conservatism and military service. I guess he had to do something with that huge pile of money!

by animated on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:10:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

They are (none / 0)

You listen to the ads and you might almost think this guy was a Democrat.

by zonk on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:42:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

Wow!!!

by puma on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:37:22 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

These number$ are promising. However, According to Rassmussen our Nation isn't ready for an African-American or white woman president when matched up with a 71 year old white-male. How sad.

by nzubechukwu on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 02:47:25 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (2.00 / 1)

Hypothesis - undecided or "soft" ST voters might JUST NOW be turning to CNN and MSNBC now that their time to vote is coming up soon.

I'm still not optimistic, but I'm back to being hopeful again (and I ponied up another $100 this week).

by NC State Dem on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:07:52 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

The MSNBC and CNN ads are, again, a national cable ad buy. Smart move.

Now, he's starting to target the post-Feb. 5th states. Ads are going on Omaha and Lincoln television tomorrow. And Ben Nelson cut a radio ad to help get out the rural vote.

Further Reading

by Dave Sund on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 03:26:25 PM EST

Re: Obama Raises Huge Dollars in January (none / 0)

For those who doubted the impact of the Kennedy endorsements, one should consider the following fact:

170,000 new contributors

Obama-haters, pray that this figure reflects the benefit of Kennedy's network. Because if Kennedy's supports haven't yet even begun to give, then Obama is in for some serious February cash, too.

by wolff109 on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 04:25:53 PM EST

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