Hillary's Haul: Her fundraising numbers in context

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
10/ 2/2007
Hillary's Haul

The $27 million Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) collected over the last three months -- $22 million of which can be spent in the primary -- installs her at the head of the presidential pack when it comes to cash collecting and reinforces the idea that she is the solid frontrunner in the race.

Unlike the first two quarters, Clinton kept her numbers closely guarded; no estimates leaked out. Even after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) announced yesterday that he had raised $20 million ($19 million in primary cash) the Clinton campaign uttered not a peep. Then came an e-mail this morning from Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle touting the $27 million total....Amid all the excitement, let's put Clinton's numbers in context.

The reality is that Clinton's $22 million is not substantially more than Obama's $19 million. And Clinton's $72.6 million raised in primary money is still less than the $74.9 million Obama has raised. (Obama spokesman Bill Burton offered this up in the immediate aftermath of the release of Clinton's money numbers: "We have raised a historic $74.9 million in dollars available for primary spending, without transferring one cent from any other campaign fund and with no money from federal lobbyists or PACs." Who could he be talking about?)

And, neither Clinton nor Obama will lose this campaign for lack of resources. Both are now positioned to spend tens of millions in the four early voting states where the nomination will almost certainly be decided. And, with former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) now taking public financing, it's clear that financially at least this is a two horse race.

On the other hand, the optics of Clinton outraising Obama in primary cash for the first time in this race at the exact same time when the Washington establishment appears to be coalescing behind her and the vast majority of state and national polling shows her widening her lead will almost certainly play into the "Clinton as inevitable nominee" narrative....

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/?hpid=moreheadlines

[rinsd]

1. I am waiting to see cash on hand on the 15th.

After the 2nd Q, with debts included (Obama a shade under $1M and Hillary around $3M) Obama had outspent Clinton by about $3M.

[Clintonista2]

2. 27 mil was only half the news. 100k new donors is the other half.