NPR: Presidential Fundraising: 2003 x 2

Presidential Fundraising: 2003 x 2

Think there's a recession? Think Americans are holding down their expenses? Then you're not on a presidential campaign.

Last year, Americans — or at least some of them — more than doubled the dollars they gave to the White House hopefuls, compared with 2003: $552 million versus $273 million. We know this thanks to the number-crunchers at the Campaign Finance Institute, which reassesses the presidential money picture after every quarterly report by the candidates to the Federal Election Commission. The latest reports, wrapping up 2007, were filed Jan. 31.

One big surprise: Despite the success of some campaigns raising small-donor money on the Internet (Barack Obama and Ron Paul, take a bipartisan bow), big money is about as important as it was the last time around. Three of every four dollars to Democrat Hillary Clinton came in contributions of $1,000 and up. For Republican Rudolph Giuliani, it was eight out of every 10 bucks.

This also points out a problem for Clinton. With both Democrats scraping for cash, half of Clinton's primary donors have hit the legal limit and can't give any more. Only one-third of Obama's donors have maxed out. So she has more of a need to find fresh donors.

Overall, the 17 top candidates averaged 61 percent of their cash from big donors (one grand or more) and just 26 percent from the little people ($200 or less).

It's undeniable that the Internet has upset the conventional wisdom about raising political money. But has it changed the bottom line? Not last year, it didn't.

- Peter Overby

3:33 PM ET | 02-12-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Well it seems a simple fact that $273 million went farther in 2003 than $552 million goes now. Besides I really didn't see anyone derailing Bush in 2004, and well the funds raised showcase this. Now, the stakes a real high, for the Dems to get back into the White House and keep the 2006 momentum with Obama or Hilary, and/or for the GOP to redefine and preserve what they want to keep after a post 9-11 GOP Bush dominated decade, either harken back to the GOP revolution of 1994 or find a new way, which McCain is feeling the brunt of that existential funk.

Sent by platonicform | 3:49 PM ET | 02-12-2008

In 2003 there was a nomination fight only in the Democratic party while this year we have one in both parties. $273M x 2 = $546M. Looked that way, the 2007 numbers did not even keep up with inflation.

Sent by Kevin L. | 10:46 PM ET | 02-16-2008

Sent by Kevin L. | 10:47 PM ET | 02-16-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.