Obama Downloads $7.9 Million from MoveOn and Web Donors

Barack Obama just shattered another grassroots fundraising record, drawing over $7.9 million in a two-day juggernaut ending Thursday. The large haul, driven by two separate Internet campaigns, fortifies Obama's political operation as the Democratic race shifts from Tuesday's national primary to a long, pitched battle for delegates.

Members of MoveOn donated over $320,000 to Obama in an overnight web campaign, according to estimates provided to The Nation. "The Obam-a-mentum fundraiser has been our biggest fundraiser yet this year," said Executive Director Eli Pariser. "There's been an overwhelming response from our members directly, and from past experience we're guessing up to the same number of our members have given through the Obama site as well," he added. MoveOn endorsed Obama after a virtual primary last week, spurring many of its 3.2 million members to campaign and donate on his behalf.

The MoveOn money augments a larger fundraising drive by the Obama Campaign, which raised $7.6 million this week. First, three million dollars poured in after the polls closed on Super Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, Obama's campaign manager emailed supporters with a challenge to donate as a rejoinder to the "startling news" that Hillary Clinton was plowing $5 million of her personal fortune into the presidential campaign. In response, a barrage of overnight donations topped $3 million.

Clinton also benefited from the web war, drawing over $4 million from 35,000 donors by Thursday morning. "From over a million volunteer hours to millions of dollars in contributions from thousands of online donors across the country, Sen. Clinton's grassroots support is a key part of her campaign's success," said Clinton Internet guru Peter Daou in an official statement.

Obama strategist David Axelrod stresses that only three percent of Obama's 650,000 contributors have hit the legal maximum for donations -- a highly unusual and advantageous breakdown for presidential donors. Most are uploading relatively small contributions. Obama is priming a new corps of grassroots activists who not only feel personally invested in his success, but can also give again upon request. His donors also donated a record-breaking $32 million in January, with over 85% of the money coming through BarackObama.com.

The candidates' new financial footing presents another role reversal in an unusually fluid and energized primary. The Clintons began with a seemingly insurmountable fundraising edge, drawing on a lucrative network of contacts cultivated over two decades spent at the pinnacle of the Democratic establishment. Clinton's finance team was so confident last year, it spent precious time raising over $17 million for the general election. (Federal law bars Clinton from spending that money now.) Some of the most experienced strategists in the party were entrusted to manage her primary war chest, including Harold Ickes, a sharp, former White House official who serves as Hilary's discreet "CFO." Yet the campaign burned through over $100 million in 13 months, apparently without a backup plan. Senior aides are now foregoing salaries while the campaign runs on a pay-as-you-go model.

Meanwhile, Obama did the unthinkable, trouncing Clinton's money edge by energizing an unusually large base of core supporters. To put his records in perspective, consider Tuesday's primary electorate. The candidates split about 14.6 million voters in 22 states. Obama's donors equal a striking 9 percent of his Super Tuesday turnout. Add the non-donor supporters that Obama has engaged, from office volunteers and decentralized phone bankers to the unprecedented 1.13 million people publicly declaring their endorsements on social networking sites, and over one out of ten Obama voters are essentially activists. That is a historic development for a presidential campaign. It means that a large share of Obama's base will not merely vote for him once, but repeatedly devote time, money, social capital and personal credibility to back his candidacy.

No one knows how much of this network can be scaled in a general election. But in primary politics, there is a term for the person who manages to draw the most voters, donors, money and committed activists: The most electable candidate.

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Web War Chests

In the duel for online donations, Obama challenged his supporters to outraise Clinton's $5 million loan, while Clinton tapped 35,000 donors recruited from web chats and town halls.

Photo Credits: Obama Campaign, Ben Murray.

Comments (38)

1. Hmmm...so Obama gets over $7 Million from 10s of thousands of donors online...

   and Hillary gets $5 Mill from.....Hillary.

   Yeah, she's just cookin' along there, FRANK!

   Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 2:41pm

2. Putting 17 million aside for the general election, 17 million that can't be touched until then, can be seen two ways I think. (1) Smart to think ahead; or (2) Putting the cart before the horse.

   I wonder if Obama has money set aside for the general election?

   Big money numbers for both candidates, really. I'm not on either of their mailing lists but I didn't hear anything about their fundraising. I wasn't on Paul's or Kucinich's lists but I heard about theirs.

   Posted by FritztheCat at 02/07/2008 @ 2:46pm

3. I find it just a bit odd that we're hearing almost nothing right now on the huge turning point that Super Tuesday represented for the Democratic nomination contest.

   Tuesday's tallies were the tip of the tidal wave of support that has drenched the Obama campaign in the last month. The fact that the mainstream media is calling Tuesday a draw shows a willful ignorance of what election campaigns are fueled by --momentum.

   Campaigns should be graphically represented by vector arrows not points on a graph. On Tuesday we saw Obama's steep upward vector cross paths with Hillary's flat line and the mass media observers are mostly pretending that the two are now neck and neck.

   I could be wrong on this, but I seriously doubt it. Obama's just caught a wave and he'll be surfing the results of Tuesday's tsunami right into the White House.

   And Hillary's going to be soaking wet with saltwater and tears by early March.

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 02/07/2008 @ 2:52pm

4. Posted by B_KOOL_66 02/07/2008 @ 2:52pm

   Gee, sorry, B_KOOL....but expert, objective analysis says you're wrong---

   "I think Hillary already has the race won."----Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 2:40pm

   BLOG | Posted 02/06/2008 @ 2:46pm Comments for "Avoiding a Convention Train Wreck" by Katrina vanden Heuvel

   (heheh)

   Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 2:58pm

5. Posted by B_KOOL_66 02/07/2008 @ 2:52pm | ignore this person

   you make a good point. in California, for example Obama peaked too late for the early voters. I believe he would have done better otherwise.

   the fact is, we haven't seen a candidate like the handsome one in some time. he's POPULAR, he creates excitement, he is unpredictable.

   the issues of experience are irrelevant post Bush, the amiable dunce, in the beginning at least. that's how he was sold.

   how is Obama sold? watch that music video.

   Posted by emile duBois at 02/07/2008 @ 3:13pm

6. Soon after obama wins the next few contests you'll see a drastic shift her way both in money and in delegates.

   Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:10pm

   Yep, I think she'll be broke and far behind in delegates. Then she can go back to the senate and pound the drums of war from there.

   Posted by FritztheCat at 02/07/2008 @ 3:13pm

7. Posted by FRITZTHECAT 02/07/2008 @ 3:13pm

   Knowing, of course, that no child of hers would ever get close to the conflict. Right Frank? I mean, you're fond of plucking at Romney for his sons not being in the military. Chelsea looks pretty healthy to me. I bet she could kick some butt in the military.

   Posted by FritztheCat at 02/07/2008 @ 3:15pm

8. Soon after obama wins the next few contests you'll see a drastic shift her way both in money and in delegates.

   Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:10pm | ignore this person

   you mean if he wins, he loses?

   you are nothing but a mouthpiece. Mett too. your credibility is shot. Mett's too.

   Posted by emile duBois at 02/07/2008 @ 3:16pm

9. "I wonder if Obama has money set aside for the general election?" FRITZ

   The nomination itself is the money in the bank. After coronation, the lucre flows. Beforehand, saving for a rainy day doesn't pay.

   It's not the money as much now, it's Obama's ability (& his advisors') to anticipate & disarm the McC machine's attacks. He might do well to start running NOW v. the GOP record of failure.

   Posted by sloper at 02/07/2008 @ 3:17pm

10. FG,

    Glad to see I'm not in your, apparently extensive, Ignoreland penal colony.

    ;-)

    P.S. What would you like on your March 4th loser-day menu? (Besides the main entree of your comments here prepared gourmet style with rich hollandaise sauce.)

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 02/07/2008 @ 3:18pm

11. Anybody catch this?....

    "You are really naive if you believe that. If Hillary takes Ohio, Texas and or Pa., which she will, or if we go to a brokered convention, it's Hillary."-----Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:10pm

    Somebody run the numbers, but if she wins OH, TX, and PA....she'll have the majority of the delegates and there won't BE a brokered convention, right?

    So FG is predicting both her victory in the primaries....and her victory in a brokered convention, that would only occur if the FIRST prediction fails?!?!?!?

    Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 3:27pm

12. BTW, this is my new favorite FRANKGRITS post....from Ms vanden Heuvel's "Avoiding a Convention Train Wreck"...

    "If Obama weren't in the race this would have been a foregone conclusion."----Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:02pm

    It's so simple, duh!.....She'd have won it easily, if nobody had run against her!

    Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 3:35pm

13. Sorry, but I'm looking ahead to the contest of Clinton vs. McCain. That is the way this is going to play out. If you knew what I know, you'd agree.

    ~Frank Grits @ 3:28pm

    What are you Frank? Some sort of secret agent?

    If you're a secret agent, then I'm Sheriff J.W. Pepper from the James Bond flick, Live and Let Die.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 02/07/2008 @ 3:43pm

14. All Obama has won is his homestate of Ill. and squeakers in Mo. and Ct due to heavy black turnout.

    14 out of 22 states on Super Tuesday is a squeaker?

    How heavy was the black turnout in Obama's wins in Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and North Dakota, FRANKGRITS? Do ANY black folks live in North Dakota?

    I guess your continued "Obama is the black candidate" talkingpoint from Camp Hillary seems pretty false in light of the results in the "white" states where he clobbered Hillary, right?

    Posted by Metteyya at 02/07/2008 @ 3:47pm

15. If you are smart and a democrat, you'll listen to my advice.

    This has been a slow day Frank. Thanks for the laugh you ignorant buffoon. What the hell do you think you are accomplishing with comments like this? You spend so much time at it I have to think you feel like you are doing some good. And that just makes it more amusing.

    Posted by dentedpat at 02/07/2008 @ 3:49pm

16. How dare democracy inject itself into the inevitable coronation of Senator Clinton! Perhaps, "because it's her turn" is not the best justification for nominating a candidate. Maybe we should just trust FRANK "If only you knew what I knew..." GRITS to decide for us. Let the voters vote, and we'll see what happens.

    Posted by Be Good at 02/07/2008 @ 3:52pm

17. Posted by BE GOOD 02/07/2008 @ 3:52pm | ignore this person

    he was always quite stalinist.

    Posted by emile duBois at 02/07/2008 @ 3:55pm

18. Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:10pm

    it's the black folk, i tells ya'.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 4:32pm

19. Then she can go back to the senate and pound the drums of war from there.

    Posted by FRITZTHECAT 02/07/2008 @ 3:13pm

    generals gathered in their masses,

    just like new york senators at black masses...........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 4:33pm

20. If you knew what I know, you'd agree.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 02/07/2008 @ 3:28pm

    spill the beans, americaman.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 4:35pm

21. it's the black folk, i tells ya'.

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 02/07/2008 @ 4:32pm

    According to FRANK, Obama hasn't won any "important states".....important being either a swing state and/or white.

    (Not sure which qualifier FG gives more importance to)

    Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 4:36pm

22. It's so simple, duh!.....She'd have won it easily, if nobody had run against her!

    Posted by MASK 02/07/2008 @ 3:35pm

    the gall......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 4:37pm

23. if you're smart and a democrat, you'll put money in MY bank account!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 4:38pm

24. Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 02/07/2008 @ 4:37pm

    He gets on a tear and....sometimes lets the truth slip out.

    I'm still not 100% sure he isn't going to get his "last laugh" and She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed will win the nomination....

    but he's lost almost all cred here and his arrogance has alienated friends and allies.

    Posted by Mask at 02/07/2008 @ 4:40pm

25. Frank-You're a Democrat and the last person you want to listen to when it comes to winning POTUS elections is a Democrat.Perot has to run in order for a Democrat to win a first term.Look at what everyone,but Democrats,are saying.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 02/07/2008 @ 4:44pm

26. Let's cut to the chase. What happened? Most of us were undecided between Barack and Hillary. A lot of us were nostalgic of Bill's era. Some of us contributed to both sides from this summer on. I was one of them.

    Then there was the "fairy tale" statement by Bill :-( Then there was the "Barack=Ronald" ad by Hill :-(( A deluge of protests hit Hill's campaign HQ and the ad was pulled immediately, but not before I could see how my money was used!

    Eventually, I am grateful to both candidates: one showed his class and the other one her true colors. Just the clarity I needed!

    Posted by LeBaron at 02/07/2008 @ 5:16pm

27. O moon of Obama,

    we now must say goodbye,

    we've lost our dear old Mama,

    I must have some whiskey

    or you know why

    with apologies to B.Brecht

    Posted by emile duBois at 02/07/2008 @ 5:22pm

28. Wow. So how long have you guys had to put up with this Frankgrits character? He's an obvious moron, a racist, and my guess is he's about 19 years old...my favorite comment in this thread is his assertion that all the states Obama has won will go Republican in November. Nevermind the fact that democratic voters have turned out in larger numbers in most of those contests...and I guarantee you that this here caucus state, Washington, will go democratic as always...perhaps Frank should go to class instead of spending his days on these threads...

    Posted by nicR at 02/07/2008 @ 5:52pm

29. Frank is just delirious from the beating he just took. It's ok. Frank, Sorry to break it to you buddy. But Democrat's don't worry about California and New York. They aren't important in the general elections. Why? Because California and New York are Blue States. Which means you don't have to worry about them going to a Republican. They worry about the swing states. The ones that are purple. Hillary isn't doing well in purple states. She did well in her home states and surrounding states. She LOST one of the surrounding states. Something you castigated Edwards for but are now trying to defend Hillary against.

    California and New York are only big wins when it comes to delegate counts. And as it goes she is still behind in delegates. Superdelegates don't care about those states they care about the swing states. What does it matter if a Dem candidate gets a nom in a blue state or a repub gets a nom in a red state. It matters what they do in the purples and Obama is slap your candidate around in the purples. Your only reason he wins is because of black voters argument went out the window in: North Dakota, Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Kansas and Colorado. Stop sitting here trying to contend he is only popular amongst blacks, he took some of the most white states in the union.

    Also he ALMOST took New Mexico. Which shows even latinos are starting to trend towards him. The race for Cali would have been a lot closer had a bunch of morons not been early voters. He hadn't picked up his momentum yet by the time they voted. Now he's serving a wave and Billary are having a problem staying on their board.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 02/07/2008 @ 7:05pm

30. Anyone notice how Franks tune changes daily. Yesterday morning he said that Obama had done better than expected and that this race was probably going to go down to the finish. Now he is saying Obama won a bunch of worthless states and the only reason he won is because of blacks and white people hate him.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 02/07/2008 @ 7:19pm

31. If you want to stop the Clinton war machine, please go give to our best chance at a progressive president, Barack Obama. With Hillary giving 5 million to herself, we have to counter this with small donations. Help me reach my goal here:

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/BlakeEllis

    Posted by beellis17 at 02/07/2008 @ 7:54pm

32. Well, I just contributed to the Obama campaign. I guess I'm now a "web donor." Sometimes, voting isn't enough to placate that urge one has to get out there and do something. I'm REALLY hoping Obama is at least half of what he appears to be. Even half of a hope is better than none.

    Posted by FritztheCat at 02/07/2008 @ 9:01pm

33. So Obama is "handsome," "creates excitement" and (this is a good one) "unpredictable." Of course, those are certainly qualities that will make an outstanding president, especially the "handsome" and "unpredictable." Just what we need in a leader....Now, let me give you an alternative..."brilliant" "tough" "caring" and above all, "leader." Those are Hilliary Clinton qualities, and what I want for the next President...By the way, weren't those same qualities you attributed to Barack, just about what they were saying about Bill Clinton when he first came onto the scene?

    Posted by carrksc at 02/07/2008 @ 9:06pm

34. Posted by CARRKSC 02/07/2008 @ 9:06pm

    You're forgetting corrupt, money grubbing and lacking moral guidance.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 02/07/2008 @ 9:11pm

35. Hillary voted for the war in Iraq - "brilliant"

    She said Bush duped her. Used her vote in a way she never intended even though it was clear as day - "leader"

    After thousands of our brave men and women gave their lives in an ill conceived war, she continued to pound on that war drum towards Iran - "caring"

    She signed on to one of the dumbest bills I've ever seen - flag burning amendment - "tough"

    Wow, what great attributes.

    Posted by FritztheCat at 02/07/2008 @ 9:18pm

36. She signed on to one of the dumbest bills I've ever seen - flag burning amendment - "tough"

    Wow, what great attributes.

    Posted by FRITZTHECAT 02/07/2008 @ 9:18pm

    hey, tomorrow if u.s. flag burning day in canada!

    c'mon up. we got igloos full, ready to go.

    and poutine, too.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 02/07/2008 @ 11:00pm

37. C'mon, Billary got it right, right from the start, 'cause they LOVE us in Iraq. And here's why:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N4bkBlsARI

    Less than minute, yet says so much.

    Posted by sloper at 02/08/2008 @ 01:01am

38. hey, tomorrow if u.s. flag burning day in canada!

    Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 02/07/2008 @ 11:00pm

    I thought U.S. flag burning day was one of the 12 days of Canadian christmas? Like number 8 or 9 or something. :)

    Back to Hillary, I'll grant that she's a tough cookie. $he probably doe$ care about a lot of thing$ and she's not stupid but I think her leadership is severely lacking.

    Posted by FritztheCat at 02/08/2008 @ 11:18am