Small donors give Obama a big boost: Leads in money race thanks to contributors of less than $200

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Small donors give Obama a big boost
The Illinois senator grabs the lead in the presidential money race thanks to people contributing less than $200.
By Dan Morain, Times Staff Writer
July 15, 2007

As he amassed $58 million and seized the lead in the presidential money race, Sen. Barack Obama relied on donors large and small, far outpacing his rivals by winning over people who give less than $200, his campaign finance report filed Sunday shows.

Obama disclosed that $9.7 million of the $33 million he raised in the second quarter of 2007 came in such small increments — a number that is unusually high and a surprise to campaign finance experts.

"This is a very powerful start," said Michael J. Malbin, executive director of the Campaign Finance Institute, a Washington group that has been particularly interested in the comparisons between large and small donors. "To have this level of enthusiasm this early is unusual."

Obama has raised money from 260,000 donors — more than twice the number of any other candidate. Although that number is large compared with other candidates, it is a tiny fraction of the people who vote; 122.3 million Americans cast votes in the 2004 presidential election.

Still, Obama can go back to his stable of donors for more money.

Obama has raised $58.5 million this year, more than any other presidential candidate in the year leading up to election year. His chief rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), is close behind at $53 million....

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-money16jul16,0,4475502.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I am one of those small donors who have given several times.

[Colobo]

2. Me too! WOOOOOOOOO!!!