Obama Raises $52 Million in June

Maybe this "Obama can't raise money" talk can stop:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/us/politics/17cnd-campaign.html?hp

Barack Obama Raised $52 Million in June

July 17, 2008
By JEFF ZELENY

WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama raised $52 million in June, his campaign announced Thursday, recording his second-best fund-raising month of the year through an aggressive mix of small and large contributions that produced more than twice the amount raised by Senator John McCain.

After becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee last month, Mr. Obama also helped the Democratic National Committee markedly increase its fund-raising to $22.4 million in June. Together, the Obama campaign and the party have about $92.3 million in the bank, which is slightly less than Republicans, who began July with about $95 million.

Yet the magnitude of the fund-raising challenge — amassing about $300 million — was underscored by his pitch for donors to give another $25. Democrats also hope to collect about $180 million for the Democratic National Committee.

“I know this isn’t the first time we’ve asked you for money, and it won’t be the last,” David Plouffe the campaign manager for Mr. Obama, announced in an e-mail message to supporters. “We have developed a strategy — a very aggressive strategy — that will only work if our millions of supporters continue to contribute their time and their money.”

While the $52 million figure came close to setting another record for Mr. Obama, it is actually slightly below projections that campaign strategists have laid out to party fund raisers.

Last week, Senator McCain, the likely Republican candidate, reported raising more than $22 million in June, his best month of the year. But because Mr. McCain is participating in the public financing system — he will receive about $84 million to spend on the general election campaign — his fund-raising burden is less than Mr. Obama’s, and he is more reliant on the Republican National Committee.

Mr. Obama’s campaign is the first to forego public funds since the presidential financing system was created three decades ago in the aftermath of Watergate.

Not since February, when Mr. Obama raised $55 million, has he reported as high a figure to the Federal Election Commission. Of his June total, about $50 million came in primary contributions, which must be spent before he accepts the party’s nomination at the Democratic convention next month. The remaining $2 million can only be spent on the general election contest with Mr. McCain.

After breaking fund-raising records throughout the winter and spring, some supporters feared that Mr. Obama’s contributions had slowed considerably. In May, he raised $21.9 million, one of his weakest months of his candidacy.

When asked about the health of his fund-raising late last week, Mr. Obama played down any concern, telling reporters, “I think you guys should wait until we release our numbers to make a decision as to how underwhelming they are.”

Since the campaign began in February 2007, Mr. Obama has raised nearly $340 million.

Mr. Obama spent more time raising money in June than he has in virtually any month since the campaign began, attending fund-raising events in almost every city he passed through.

In his message to supporters on Thursday, Mr. Plouffe said the average June contribution was $68. The campaign has been asking donors to give again and again, until they reach the maximum $2,300 that individuals can donate to the primary and general election efforts.

Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said party contributions were up considerably in June after Mr. Obama clinched the nomination, raising $22.4 million in June, compared with $4.7 million in May. The increase is attributed to a joint committee, with Mr. Obama attending several events where the maximum donation to the party is $28,500.

Extensive advertising efforts are underway by both candidates. While Mr. Obama is running a series of television ads in 18 states, Mr. McCain is investing more money into his campaign, which is targeting 11 states.