In April, Kerry's Fundraising Nearly Doubled Bush's

[Spazito]

Sen. John F. Kerry's fundraising receipts surged strongly ahead of President Bush's last month, with the presumptive Democratic nominee pulling in almost twice what the president raised.

At the same time, Bush's campaign is spending money at an unprecedented rate. In part because of a $50 million ad blitz in March and early April, Bush has spent nearly $130 million on his reelection effort, a record amount, according to reports that the campaign filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission. In April alone, his campaign spent almost $31 million to help counteract a series of negative news reports that have hurt the president's standing in the polls.

Kerry's fundraising haul of $30 million in April -- compared with the Bush campaign's $15.6 million -- marked the second consecutive month in which the Massachusetts senator's receipts have exceeded the president's, according to the two campaigns. Over the past two months, Kerry has attracted about $30 million more than Bush. The president did much of his fundraising last year and has stopped attending events to raise more for his campaign.

Bush still has a big advantage over Kerry in cash on hand -- about $71.6 million at the end of April, compared with Kerry's $28 million. But several independent observers say two factors could work in Kerry's favor: the accelerated pace of his fundraising and a likely decline in spending by the president over the next few months. Kerry's success in attracting donations has, in any case, obliterated the conventional wisdom of just a few months ago that the president would use his enormous financial strength to clobber his opponent with advertising, as President Bill Clinton did in 1996 against Robert J. Dole and as Bush did in 2000 against a cash-strapped Al Gore.

more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43598-2004May20.html

[paper chase guy]

1. soon as I get paid....

kerry's campaign will be 25 bucks richer.

[k in IA]

2. I just gave another $25 the other day when they had Dean's

bat up.

[paper chase guy]

4. hehe, I love that bat.

:)

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. just sent $50....

will send another $36.43 next week. $86.43

[west michigan]

5. Looking good

:-)

[PartyPooper]

6. More help is on the way, just as soon as I can afford it!

:kick:

[fabius]

7. I just gave Kerry $250. Go Kerry!

As soon as we wipe the floor with the Repugs in November we can talk about real campaign finance reform. And if they get their butts kicked hard enough they'll talk.

[David Zephyr]

8. Thanks for Some Good News, Spazito.

:thumbsup:

[Spazito]

10. You're welcome!

I figured we could all use some right now.

[Zero Gravitas]

9. Holy Crap!

Thats amazing! I hope its indicative of a real ground swell of support for getting rid of the incompetent fool. The GOP always raises more money the Dems (and I'm sure in total Bush is ahead) but this is great news. I've been meaning to donate again to Kerry and I just did so :)

I encourage everyone to give whatever they can afford $5, $10, $25, $100, $250, $1,000 whatever. Every little helps and there are more of us than there of them!

[dArKeR]

11. I only have a little left to give. I don't know if I should donate to

the DU, Kerry, or MoveOn?

[PartyPooper]

13. Simple math will tell you 1/3 to each!

;-)

[lakeguy]

12. It would be great if someone had info on

what percentage of the money one donates actually gets to Kerry for his use. Anyone know the difference between call centers, Dean's bat, etc.?

[pacifictiger]

14. this is good news.

Since Bush is more about maintaining an elaborate image, he'll no doubt be forced to keep spending hand over fist attempting to keep the smoke and mirrors, not to mention the panderers, firmly in place. Any bets on how much in the hole he'll be at the end of the campaign? I wonder if the Saudi's will figure a way to slip him some $$. Wouldn't that be an exquisite scandal?

[Spazito]

15. The article says that bush stopped fund raising last year...

here's the sentence: "The president did much of his fund raising last year and has stopped attending events to raise more for his campaign."

That's incorrect! Bush has been fund raising in 2004, here is the proof!

Bush hits road for campaign fund raising
Wednesday, March 3, 2004 Posted: 10:31 AM EST (1531 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- In six days away from the White House, President Bush is the star attraction at five events aimed at pulling in cash to help get him re-elected and put other Republicans in office as well.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/03/elec04.prez.bush.campaign.ap/

[bigtime]

16. he was in Atlanta raising campaign money earlier this week

he flew into Dobbins AFB and attended a fundraising dinner at the home of the Home Depot chairman. Raked in several million, according to the AJC. So it doesn't sound like he's stopped attending events to raise funds.

http://www.ajc.com/monday/content/epaper/editions/monday/metro_048ab4dfe11c504000a4.html

Maybe the funds were for the RNC, so that Junior can technically say he wasn't raising money for HIS campaign, maybe that's what they are trying to hang their hat on. I guess it all just depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is.

(edit: added link)