$52 Million

There had been some signs that Barack Obama's fundraising might be falling short of what the campaign needs to implement its strategy, but with the news that they raised $52 million in June that doesn't seem to be the case. Still, it's worth pointing out that despite Obama's edge over McCain, the RNC's enormous edge over the DNC means that it's by no means clear that Obama will really have a financial advantage in an overall sense. The McCain campaign and the RNC, recall, are working in a sufficiently hand-in-glove manner that the RNC ran an ad lauding McCain's willingness to break with the Republicans over climate change.

David Plouffe's email to supporters below the fold:

We have some big news we want to share with you.

Because of your generosity and commitment, we're reporting to the press today that this campaign is in a very strong financial position.

In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52 million.

But more impressive than the number is how you did it. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people contributed to building our campaign for change. Many were first-time donors, giving only what they could afford -- and the average donation was just $68.

You continue to prove what ordinary Americans committed to change can accomplish, despite the Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs funding so much of our opponents' campaign.

But we can't stop now.

It's going to take everything we've got to defeat John McCain and the Republican National Committee in November. And we can't do it without your continued support.

Can you make a donation of $25 now to strengthen our movement for change?

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

I also wanted to share with you another promising piece of news.

The Obama campaign and the DNC ended June with a combined total of nearly $72 million in the bank. It's a healthy number. But McCain and the RNC together still have a huge cash advantage, and we need your help to close the gap.

As I mentioned in my video message to you earlier in the week, we're facing a Republican machine with unprecedented resources at its disposal. The McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.

Our campaign does not accept donations from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, and neither does the Democratic National Committee. But John McCain and the RNC have no such standards.

Along with the vast amounts of unregulated money being raised by shadowy outside groups, there's no telling how much they'll spend running attack ads.

We must work together and fight back against their efforts.

Please make a donation of $25 now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

I know this isn't the first time we've asked you for money, and it won't be the last.

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.

We are now on the air with TV ads in 18 states -- including 14 that George W. Bush carried in the 2004 election. And in each one we're also building extensive grassroots field organizations.

It's all part of our strategy to spread Barack's positive message and compete in all 50 states.

That strategy will work, and it has to. The stakes are too high and the need for change too great. We are thrilled to be on this journey with you and thank you for all you have done so far. But victory is only possible with your continued help.

Please give $25 now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

We can't do this without you.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Comments

Actually that's not quite right.
The fact is after being down $50M last month, Democrats (both Obama and the DNC) have now as much cash on hand as the Republican combo. And considering their fundraising has been much quicker all year, you can be sure that by the conventions the Dems will have a significant advantage.

Posted by benjamin | July 17, 2008 10:20 AM

Great news!

If he can raise this much with a significant portion of the base mad at him over things like FISA, and another segment mad that he's asking them to pay down Hillary's debt, it shows that he hasn't lost as much momentum as folks like me feared.

Mr. Plouffe was also wise to point out the anemic fundraising totals of the DNC means that, overall, they are not quite at financial parity with McCain for the general election.

Matt, can you possibly do some blogging speculating on why the DNC's fundraising has been so poor in a cycle that should favor them? Is it just because Obama is taking in donations that would have otherwise gone to the DNC? Is there another reason? I'd be curious to see some speculation.

Oh, and congratulations on the new job. Going to miss you at The Atlantic.

Posted by Jim Crozier | July 17, 2008 10:29 AM

Now THAT is satire. Surely this guy can't rate a post. Congratulations on your new job.

Posted by asl | July 17, 2008 10:50 AM

I think the fundraising total of July will more reflect the FISA vote than June.

Posted by konw | July 17, 2008 11:35 AM

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I seem to recall that the DCCC and the DSCC have been absolutely thrashing their Republican counterparts in fundraising.

The upshot is that while the DNC may look anemic compared to the RNC, the fact is that the RNC money will have to cover the presidential, senatorial and house races, while the DNC is basically free to focus solely on Obama.

Request for a post: What is the total warchest of each team? Please include in your answer total contributions to house candidates, total contributions to Senatorial candidates, total contributions to their respective legislative campaign committees and the national committee. Bonus points for including Governors races.

I would wager that the RNC "advantage" disappears pretty quick in a sea of blue money.

Posted by MKD | July 17, 2008 11:41 AM

Actually,

I would bet that July may not be as much as this month, but still good amounts. While File was in the later half of June to early July, after the WSJ story came out saying that Obama and the DNC were not going to meet their money quota for June, you can bet alot of Obama's donors donated to the campaign. And when it was said that the RNC has what...100million cash on hand, and the DNC had less than 1/2 that amount, I know I contributed, and you can bet others did as well.
Also, when many people in the netroots said they were withholding money from Obama due to his FISA vote, some people decided to double-down on their own contributions to compensate.

So, with big ticket fundraisers, and his usual cache of small donors, I think July will be another good month.

BTW, lately people have been saying that Obama's press team has not been playing the media well, well shout out the the O-team for playing the WSJ, and all those "concern trolling" who just knew Obama was "in trouble". In fact, didn't Matt post a blog about Obama's money troubles too.

Posted by lamh | July 17, 2008 2:19 PM